THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN The oldest circulating Greek newspaper outside Greece email: VEMA [email protected] MAY 2006 Tel. (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033 In this issue... Our Primate’s View THE SO-CALLED ‘CATHARSIS’ IN THE CHURCH OF GREECE - C’- PAGES 4/22, 5/23 Howard: ‘Budget tax cuts responsible’ Prime Minister John Howard has defended the extent of tax cuts in the Responsible: Mr Howard says Budget, saying he does not believe it will the Budget will not put pres- WINDOWS TO ORTHODOXY: lead to upward pressure on interest rates. sure on interest rates. Saint Thomas - The Treasurer Peter Costello on Tuesday 9th May, unveiled $37 billion worth of tax cuts Apostle full of faith: over four years. He also announced changes to family wel- An Exegesis of John 20:24-31 fare benefits and superannuation taxes, and funding for infrastructure, largely through PAGE 8/26 the AusLink program. Mr Howard described the Budget measures as responsible. He says the extra money in people's pock- ets will help them deal with rising petrol costs. "I do not believe that this Budget in its overall scope would be a surprise to the gov- been banging on for a long time about ced to superannuation will address the long- ernor of the Reserve Bank," he said. skills." term needs and consequences of Australia's "He would see that big surplus. But Mr Howard has rejected claims the ageing population. "He would see the value at a time of high Government is not doing enough to address From the middle of next year, retirees aged petrol prices of people getting a bit of extra skills shortages. over 60 who have already paid tax on their money in their pocket from tax cuts." "We announced a lot on skills once again super contributions will not be charged outside of the Budget process," he said. again when they receive their payouts. Labor support "The Australian technical colleges Phillipa Smith, from the Association of announced in the last election got more sup- Superannuation Funds, says it will make it Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley port than any other individual policy initia- easier for people to contribute to their own says Labor has been pushing the Govern- tive during that campaign, so I do encourage well-being. ment to overhaul the tax system for years. people not to see the be-all and end-all of "It does mean also that it's an easier deci- Mr Beazley says the Treasurer has now what governments do as contained in the sion for people to stay in the workforce if TRAVEL: delivered on that, to a degree. Budget speech." they want because the income they might be "As far as we're concerned there's nothing drawing down from their super won't be cal- Rhodes off in the tax package that we find offensive but Superannuation culated in terms of extra cash on top of their the beaten track there is much that we find overdue," he said. salary," she said. "This is better than there was last year and Mr Howard also says the changes announ- AAP we have been nagging year in, year out to PAGE 18/36 get this Government to seriously address tax concerns for middle Australia. "We've tried very hard on that, we've now Budget 2006 Key Points got them up to the mark to a degree." Cash surplus of nearly $15 billion for this financial year  Training concerns Underlying cash surplus of $10.8 billion for the next financial year Economic growth tipped at 3.25 per cent But Mr Beazley says the Budget has failed Inflation forecast at 2.75 per cent for 2006-07 to provide for the nation's future.  He says the Treasurer has made no provi- Personal income tax cuts worth $36.7 billion over four years sions to boost Australia's skills base. from July 1, 2006 "There should have been in this Budget an Increased family payments and childcare places to entice mothers addressing of what is the core problem of back to work what is causing bottlenecks in the ... devel- opment of the Australian economy and that $500 million funding boost for improved water management is the skills of our people," he said. in the Murray -Darling basin "In the same way that we have been bang-  ing on for a long time about tax cuts, we've $2.3 billion in funding for road and rail infrastructure uro Funeral Service Genocide Eëëçíéêü Ïéêïãåíåéáêü Ãñáöåßï Ôåëåôþí of the Pontian Greeks Tel: (02) 9747 6604 PAGE 16/34 Available 24 hrs 114543 MAY 2006 2/20 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

History Channel documentary brings Rome back to life Computer-generated imagery (CGI), Engineering an Empire with further pro- until now, has been reserved for big budg- grams to focus on the Mayan people, Khmer, et Hollywood movies. America’s History Persians, Byzantines and Aztecs. Channel claims to be one of the first net- Gavin said CGI would be used in some of works to use CGI for a television docu- the upcoming programs, but not all. mentary - Rome: Engineering an Empire. “It is used as a tool and a tool that we think “In the past, CGI was really restricted to believing people might mistake the recre- through and use very carefully to ensure that big budget movies,” said Dolores Gavin, ations for exact replicas. we can tell the story in a different way,” she director of History Channel programming. Others have argued that the program could said. “But the cost of CGI animation has just not be labelled a documentary and should be “It really is a case by case basis, but I think dropped dramatically. referred to as fiction. it is a wonderful tool that any filmmaker FIRST WOMAN IN SPACE “It would be nearly impossible for us to Gavin said she could understand the argu- should be free to use.” June 16, 1963 have done the show even three years ago ment but that the CGI was used simply to Director Chris Cassel will be working on because the technology just wouldn’t have illustrate the magnitude of the successes in the entire series. On June 16, 1963, aboard Vostok 6, So- been available to us.” Roman engineering. While interested in history, Cassel is the viet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova Rome: Engineering an Empire charts the “In the documentary world, this has been the first to admit he isn’t an expert. becomes the first woman to travel into rise and fall of the Roman Empire from subject of much discussion and debate,” she “We passed it past many scholars, just to space. After 48 orbits and 71 hours, she 500BC to 55AD, marking successes and said. ensure the accuracy of it,” said Cassel. returned to earth, having spent more failures with a focus on engineering develop- “There is a school of thought that believes Cassel was fascinated at how the Romans time in space than all U.S. astronauts ments. that any recreations using CGI is not really created an intricate aqueduct system to trans- combined to that date. Rome was the most powerful and advan- considered documentary. port more than 200 million gallons of run- ced civilisation in the world for more than “But there is another school of thought that ning water into Rome each day. MEN REACH EVEREST SUMMIT 500 years, covering the reigns of emperors says that that is part of what we consider to That is equivalent to the amount of water May 29, 1953 Vespasian, Trajan, Hadrian, Nero and of be a documentary.” provided to the city of New York in 1985. course, Julius Caesar. Gavin feels very strongly about the argu- The documentary also looks at many of the At 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953, Edmund The documentary looks at various engi- ment. secrets of Rome’s architectural proficiency - Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, neering feats such as the Colosseum, or the “CGI is one of many tools available to film- the use of durable, waterproof concrete that a Sherpa of Nepal, become the first explorers Flavian Amphitheatre as it was first known, makers to be able to tell this very compelling still sustains many of the city’s key struc- to reach the summit of Mount Everest, which and an early Roman shopping mall. story about the past,” she said. tures. at 29,035 feet above sea level is the highest Instead of showing footage of Roman ruins, “And I don’t as a rule say that CGI or that It was also important to Cassell that the point on earth. The two, part of a British the documentary makers have recreated the reconstruction must be in every show, documentary look at some of the more inter- expedition, made their final assault on the monuments using CGI, something that dif- because there are documentaries for which esting personal moments in Roman history. summit after spending a fitful night at 27,900 ferentiates the program from the many other those two things were not appropriate.” One interesting fact to emerge was that feet. News of their achievement broke documentaries on Rome. Rome: Engineering an Empire screened in Emperor Vespasian is credited with being the around the world on June 2, the day of Queen CGI is the technology used by filmmakers the United States last year and premiered in first leader to introduce pay toilets in Rome. Elizabeth II's coronation, and Britons hailed to create scenes that would be too expensive Italy in April. “I am really interested in all the juicy stuff it as a good omen for their country's future. or impossible to recreate in live action. The program will be seen around the world like how Nero decapitated his wife,” he said. Various Roman aqueducts have been recreat- this month, including on pay TV’s Foxtel in “The response we got from the audience in CORONATION ed, as has the Pantheon, Baths of Caracalla Australia, and has been so successful that the the United States showed very much that OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II and Hadrian’s Wall. History Channel has commissioned a whole people were just as interested in the juicier June 2, 1953 The process has caused some concern in series based on engineering. parts of the story as they were in the rest.” historical circles with a number of experts They’ve just finished production on Egypt: AAP On June 2, 1953, Queen Elizabeth II is for- mally crowned monarch of the United Kingdom in a lavish ceremony steeped in tra- ditions that date back a millennium. A thou- Greece improves position in IMD's sand dignitaries and guests attended the coro- nation at London's Westminster Abbey, and hundreds of millions listened on radio and world competitiveness ranking for the first time watched the proceedings Greece improved its position in IMD’s world competitiveness Greek tourism, exports and portfolio investments by foreign on live television. After the ceremony, ranking for 2006, climbing to 42nd from 50th place in 2005 among funds were the country’s main advantages, IMD said in its report. millions of rain-drenched spectators cheered 61 states and regions. The country recorded improvements in the Greece ranked eighth among 61 countries in tourist activity as a the 27-year-old queen and her husband, the government efficiency index (climbing from 52 to 46), business percentage of GDP and ninth in export of services, while also 30-year-old duke of Edinburgh, as they efficiency (to 47 from 49) and infrastructure (to 33 from 37). ranked 15th in foreign investments’ reserves in equities. passed along a five-mile procession route in The economic performance index, however, remained The country, however, ranked at the bottom of this year’s rank- a gilded horse-drawn carriage. unchanged at the 49 position. IMD, in its annual report, said the ing (60th) on exports of goods as a percentage of GDP and unem- SIX-DAY WAR ENDS "demons" of bureaucracy, hurdles in business starts, central gov- ployment as a percentage of workforce (49th). ernment debt, fiscal deficit and low spending on research and edu- State support and the central government’s external debt (sev- June 11, 1967 cation were troubling the Greek economy. enth and 13th respective) were the main advantages in the govern- Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas said it was the first time ment efficiency index. Greece lost four places (29 from 25) in the The Six-Day War between Israel and its Arab since 2001 that Greece managed to improve its position in the real growth of total productivity last year, while the country was neighbors ends with a United Nations-bro- world competitiveness ranking, reversing a five-year decline. The not considered to be an attractive destination for foreign skilled kered cease-fire. The outnumbered Israel minister said this year’s report was the first to solely present fig- workers and that Greek enterprises reported high corporate debt. Defense Forces achieved a swift and decisive ures from the current government’s tenure, while he added that In the infrastructure category, Greece ranked second and ninth victory in the brief war, rolling over the Arab Greece managed to surpass countries such as Portugal, Turkey, in the ratio of students and professors in the first and second grade coalition that threatened the Jewish state and South Africa and Jordan, while it recorded the third biggest annu- of education, youths’ strong interest in science and technology more than doubling the amount of territory al improvement after China and India. (ninth) and total spending on health as a percentage of GDP under Israel's control. The greatest fruit of "We won’t stop here, we continue with the same pace to ensure (ninth). victory lay in seizing the Old City of Jeru- an improvement in Greek business and economic competitive- The United States, Hong Kong and Singa-pore remained at the salem from Jordan; thousands of Jews ness," Sioufas said. top of IMD’s report, with Iceland, Denmark, Australia, Switzer- wept while bent in prayer at the Second The report was presented by the president of the Federation of land, Canada, Luxembourg, and Finland completing the top 10. Temple's Western Wall. Northern Greek Industries (SBBE) George Mylonas. Commenting Presenting the report, Mylonas said the government should on the report, Mylonas expressed his optimism that Greece would focus on regional convergence, attracting more foreign invest- continue improving its position on the precondition that the coun- ments and offering incentives and state support to boost exports. try achieved to attract more foreign direct investments in its He also urged for efforts to combat bureaucracy and lowering cor- regions. porate taxes, and combating corruption in the public sector. MAY 2006 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 3/21 Editorial

Crime by majority vote expropriate land in order to expand green areas or to impose Collective responsibility stricter regulations preserving traditional architecture. By Stamos Zoulas It is common knowledge that failure to reform the social Underestimating public intelligence security system will lead the country into a major crisis. An exhortation by European Environment Commissioner Analysts disagree on just when that will happen (some say Stavros Dimas that Greeks should vote in October’s local elec- By Stamos Zoulas 10 years from now, others 15), but everyone agrees that time tions for mayors who have “worked for the environment” may is running out. be correct, but it is also outrageously utopian. One of the most basic reasons for the political parties’ lack of The Socialist opposition never tires of hammering home the It is right in a formal sense because it shows that the heart of credibility in the eyes of the public is their strong tendency to seriousness of the problem. the country’s environmental problems lies in local government underrate the intelligence of Greek voters. PASOK officials describe the coming nightmare in the most and the way it operates. This is exemplified by the two major political clashes of the dramatic terms. They indulge in lurid language, such as “the Yet it is unrealistic because it is almost impossible to find - past week: over Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis’s talks pension system time bomb” and “social cohesion torpedoed,” and even more difficult to elect - mayors who have actually with her US counterpart Condoleezza Rice on the one hand, which, though reflecting the truth, is of little use when unac- worked for the environment. and PASOK MPAlekos Papadopoulos’s remarks on pensions companied by constructive proposals. Speaking in an interview in Sunday’s Kathimerini, Dimas on the other. Politics is not just about enumerating problems; it is about said Greece is almost at the bottom of the list of European Starting with the latter issue, it is unclear what the former solving them. countries with regard to observing fundamental environmental health minister said to provoke such outrage within his own The parliamentary debate starting May 11 at the govern- regulations and protecting its ecological system. Unfortunate- party and such mirthful scorn from figures of ruling New ment’s initiative will force all political parties to face up to ly, the problem cannot be solved by enacting more laws or Democracy. Indeed, by describing pensions before the age of their responsibilities. imposing heavier penalties on infringers. What is lacking in 60 as “unacceptable,” Papadopoulos was hardly saying any- Evasion, in the sense of simply describing the problems, is Greece is a deeper environmental awareness. thing new. no longer an option. The greatest damage to the environment in this country has An increase in the minimum age for cashing one’s pension The next four years must see decisions and measures that are not been done by “ravenous” industrial interests or “unprinci- was accepted by all political parties a long time ago and the the result of wide-ranging dialogue. pled” business owners. It has been done at the bidding of local average age for new pensioners since 1993 has been 63.6 years This dialogue should not be hijacked by political expedien- societies, either to advance “development” or to enable mem- for men and 62.5 years for women. cy. It must both shed light on all aspects of a complex issue and bers of the local electorate to better exploit their property In this case, as with that of Giorgos Floridis - PASOK’s for- forge the necessary social consensus in order to implement assets. mer economic policy coordinator fired after his “Scandinavian whatever solution is found. Locals themselves are not to blame; they are simply unin- model” proposal - the point is not the content but the reason- There is no room for any further delay. It is time to put an formed. People must be taught from early on the value of the ing behind the statement. And the truth is that the pensions end to empty rhetoric and playing hide and seek with the environment and the need to protect it, to evaluate human problem is one that must be solved but one which parties Greek public. needs in relation to land use and the exploitation of natural would rather exploit for political gains than actually tackle, It is the duty of all political parties and organized groups in resources. because of the heavy political cost this would entail. the community to come up with specific proposals, backed up If that is not done, then our environment will continue to be The political clash provoked by Rice’s visit to Athens last by statistics and future projections. destroyed in the most democratic way possible: by local week also demonstrates politicians’ condescension of voters’ The social insurance issue is not exclusively the problem of majorities in the name of unrestricted development and the intelligence. In particular, the opposition’s unrelentingly patri- the present government. It a collective problem that can only exploitation of property assets by a minority. otic stance suggests that citizens have forgotten Greece’s sup- be dealt with in a collective fashion. No local electorate will choose a mayor who promises to port for the US in the past.

worms, and as I found the English diffi- What a difference a year makes Talking cult to discern (there’s not that much you can do with one little brown worm), I This time last year Aussie Greek actress and had no faith in the accuracy of the singer/songwriter, Joanne Xenidis was in Point Arabic, and gave it a miss. Greece emersed in the culture, the history and by Ann Coward the language. Now, signed to Jellyfish records However, a new book-store opened she is about to embark on a National tour to nearby, and, of course, I felt compelled promote her debut Greek pop single "Eimaste Getting the message to ‘check it out’. There, sitting on the Mazi." shelves, was a brand-new, hot off the "Eimaste Mazi" is about fighting for what Have you ever invited a number of press, little book on Arabic script for you believe in. In the context of the song it’s people to a favourite restaurant, only to English-speakers. I read through a few about being there for the one you love. The find that one person in your party has chapters, but quickly became dismayed. song talks about dealing with the challenges been served something inedible? On the The instructions for many of the letters and obstacles life throws your way to achieve your dreams. It highlights that following your rare occasions when I’ve unfortunately simply read “ask a native speaker to heart and your truth is the only way to find witnessed this, the people involved have make the sound for you”, with no further explanation. Well, I thought to myself, if your ultimate happiness. This can be in rela- been exceptionally rude to a waiter tionships, in your career or with life in general. beforehand. Now, while what was going I’m going to go to the effort of asking someone to tell me how to sound the let- The message behind the song is that with per- on may have been quite obvious to severance and persistence anything is possible. ters, I could equally ask them how to everyone else sitting around the table, "Eimaste Mazi" is the culmination of countless Following in the footsteps of her Grandfather I’ve never observed that the person write them. So, I put the book back on hours collaborating with Michael Stangel, an who was absorbed in traditional Greek music, being ‘paid back’ by restaurant staff has the shelf, and that was one sale the store accomplished producer, musician and writer expressing himself through multiple instru- ever understood why, out of all the meals missed out on. who is internationally recognised. He has also ments and Byzantine chanting, Joanne inherit- being served, it was only their meal that worked with The Veronicas, Melissa Tallon, ed the same unquenchable hunger for music. was dreadful. It got me thinking, though, about lost Borne, Shannon Noll, Vanessa Amorossi, Her first performance at 7 years of age was a opportunities. Here, on the one hand, Human Nature, Sofie Monk, Tiffany Wood, lead role in front of an audience of hundreds as The misreading of events or actions, is was a person (me) who’s interested in and Mark Holden. Maria from the Sound of Music. [Quite ironi- quite a problem. For example, I picked learning, and on the other hand, there Joanne has also been an avid supporter of cally her favourite flick] up an interesting little book today. It was were authors eager to pass on their Greek community events and the highlights of The shock success of the show inspired about learning the Arabic script. knowledge. The technology exists for her career to date include performing at the Joanne to continue growing as an artist and Languages fascinate me, and I like to those authors to not only write instruc- Antipodes Festival 2005, Nick Drimousis play further lead roles in Theatre, live singing know something about each of them, so tions on Arabic script, but also to record Concert 2005, ATHLOS Gala Night 2005, performances and later appearing in Aussie TV dramas such as Neighbours (2002) and that if there is a foreign-language film, or the sounds. For a few extra cents (as this Greek Carols 2005 as well as most recently Stingers in the same year. Between 2002 – a sign or label, I can at least make a little is all that CDs cost) they could have pro- The Royal Children’s Hospital (Greek) Good duced an extremely useful language Friday Appeal 2006. 2005 she also performed in theatre productions bit of sense out of what is being said, or at Chapel off Chapel such as “It’s All In The shown. Arabic is one script I know resource, but they didn’t. If the book "Eimaste Mazi" is on sale now through all fails to sell, will the publisher understand good Greek record stores nationally including Timing” directed by Greg Saunders. absolutely nothing about, although a In 2002 Joanne was accepted into the master why, or will they misread the signs and Metropolis Music in Lonsdale Street, friend, having once lived in Saudi Melbourne and through the official Joanne class of Screen Actors Studio studying three Arabia, kindly gave me a wall-frieze for conclude that there’s no interest in the years under the tuition of Greg Saunders and subject matter? Interesting, isn’t it. Xenidis website www.joannexenidis.com.au children depicting both Arabic and Born in Melbourne to Hellenic parents, John McGlynn. English letters and numbers. The sym- Joanne Xenidis has always had an instinctive It was during this time that Joanne realised bols on the frieze were made by little and passionate desire to be immersed in the she was compelled towards a career as a singer arts. and the pursuit of creating her own music. ÌÁÕ 2006 4/22 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA Our Primate’s View

We had promised that immediately following Easter we a) The blackmail method used to establish the would continue from the previous censuring articles, for a more Office of the Representative of the Archdiocese of Athens in the complete documentation of all that we had expressed unequivocal- European Union at Brussels, completely separate from the Office ly and axiomatically regarding Archbishop Christodoulos of of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In exchange, (what irony!) a sim- Athens, as one ‘who perennially engages in provocative ‘double- ple Office of the Representative of the Patriarchate in Athens. As if talk’ and actions.’ the Ecumenical Patriarchate were not the ‘Mother Church’ which, Today we continue dutifully, though we know that some from her own womb, elevated the former ‘Daughter Churches’, will hasten to accuse us that the Easter period would have dictated albeit disorderly, to ‘Sister Churches’ having benefited not only a longer ‘truce’! Others again, from among the executive co-work- global Hellenism as a whole, but even this ‘forgetful’ current ers of His Beatitude, on the website of the Archdiocese of Athens, Greek Prelate of the double Junta (Ieronymus and ‘Chrysopigi’) had the nerve to brazenly characterize our first two articles as sup- posed outbursts of a wrathful character. Yet, as a deceptive ploy, b) No other Prelate of an Autocephalous Orthodox they did not omit to air the view that we had already concluded our Church, as much as Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens, has series! demonstrated a mania in projecting his competitive presence so In order to ‘awaken’ them from their ‘wishful thinking’, provocatively in the presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch with a we should immediately observe that the most philanthropic liturgi- pompous ‘dependency on vestments’, even when ‘hosting’ him in cal cry ‘let us forgive all things in the Resurrection’, cannot have Athens. This provocation becomes even more evident and painful any place here. The reason is obvious: We are not focusing on the during the enthronements of Metropolitans in his immediate juris- personal (private) sins of anyone in these articles. On the contrary, diction where he ‘acquiesces’ by merely wearing just one Pectoral we are concerned in the fear of God – and not of men – about the Engolpion and standing at the Para-Throne! To think that his public image and attitude of the most ambitious and insatiable predecessor, Archbishop Seraphim, the ‘old warhorse’ who was Prelate that the Church of Greece has known; one who from the inimitable in his simplicity and spontaneity, in welcoming ‘cradle’ is burdened with a well-known and acutely eventful ‘for- Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios, did not condescend to hold even mer life’! the common pastoral ‘staff’ which every Prelate is entitled to in his Another serious reason which demands a continuation of Eparchy. the public criticism undertaken here – not by ‘dark powers’, but By Archbishop from within and in the name of the common sacred principles – is c) The obvious or subtle ‘undermining’ from Stylianos that the rich promises made about a so-called ‘catharsis’ have evap- Athens of every form of Inter-Orthodox or Inter-Christian of Australia orated like the ‘morning dew’, and all the ecclesiastical ‘scandals’ of the Archbishop’s environment are either ‘outstanding’ or under doubtful judicial trial, having unforeseeably taken a turn for the worse. THE SO-CALLED The almost ‘mystifying’ manner in which ecclesiastical matters in Greece have been overturned, without exaggeration, resembles a ‘theatre of the absurd’. ‘CATHARSIS’ People and ranks change rapidly like ‘shadows’ in a ‘nightmarish scenario’ where one no longer is able to distinguish IN THE CHURCH whether he is dealing with responsible ‘persons’ or with already undermined ‘disguises’! As for the relations with the Ecumenical Throne, a OF GREECE detailed commentary is not required here. The exchanges between the two Prelates who we are to understand have been most sincere - C’- ‘friends’ from a very young age, are still fresh and unforgettable since they almost reached a point of ‘mutual extermination’. We should underline here, however, that the Martyric Meetings or Dialogues, under the co-ordination of the Ecumenical First-Throne Church of Constantinople, the true ‘Nurturer’ not Patriarchate, so that, sooner or later, the Phanar at Constantinople only of Ecumenical Hellenism, but also the only ‘Bastion’ of all might possibly be displaced, in the hope that there might rise the Orthodox peoples, never in the past has ‘tasted’ so many contra- fabled ‘Third Rome’, not from Moscow but from Athens! dictory ‘surprises’, so much bitterness and ‘disappointment’ from The most exasperating example of sabotage and any other Prelate of the Church of Greece, as with the unmindful illicit competitiveness, however, was, as everyone is aware, the and unscrupulous Archbishop Christodoulos. Official Theological Dialogue with Rome which, for 20 years Though, while still Metropolitan of Dimitrias, he was the (1980-2000) was undermined fiercely. The writer (as the Chairman most frequent visiting pilgrim and the fiercest Preacher of the of the Orthodox Commission for the Dialogue), when he resigned rights of the Ecumenical Throne (at the same time coordinating in frustration, did not omit to deposit irrefutable and extremely with a whole network of co-workers in every quarter (!) his per- revealing details as to the ‘unholy collusion’ in this case (see sonal propulsion to Athens), as soon as he ascended the prospective ‘Concerning the Misfortune of the Official Theological Dialogue Throne, he commenced the undermining methodically and sys- between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholics’ Scientific tematically. Simply put, he openly sought to assume the role and Journal, School of Theology, Aristoteleian University of responsibilities of the ‘First’ amongst all Hellenes of the world! Thessaloniki, Thess. 2003). Let those who have not yet suffered amnesia again read the unheard-, of daily statements of the most audacious d) The opportune ‘provision’ by Athens, from time Triumvirate of the ‘Chrysopigi’ movement through which they to time, of enormous quantities of technical infrastructure, medi- directly called upon the Ecumenical Patriarchate to completely cines and other basic needs required by the neighbouring divest itself of all rights over the ‘united land of Greece’ and indi- Orthodox Churches of the Balkans, freed from the ‘Iron Curtain’ rectly over Hellenism Abroad! And all of this, in the name of an and by the Overseas Missions. And all of these initiatives which unbearable nationalism which, unfortunately, was supported by were initially commendable and brotherly, were unfortunately con- not a few frivolous, imprudent contemporary Greek politicians ducted in a manner not only entirely populist and paternalistic, from all Parties. but also for the purpose of skilfully creating an ‘ethical model’of Before we quote in its entirety the ‘forerunner’ text of a supposedly new ‘Prelacy of Love’ which condescends to count Archbishop Christodoulos’s official response to the writer’s formal and publish individual portions of food to the poor! To think that congratulatory telegram on the occasion of his election, as a sign of the Church of Greece today is the most ‘State-funded’ and concur- things to come, which contains a pronounced character of ‘pro- rently lowly servant of worldly authority, without at all being grammatic statements’, for those who are directly interested and financially ‘accountable’ or politically ‘suppressed’. vigilant we shall provide an illustrative summary of the more stark samples of ecclesiastical ‘janissary’ from the so-called ‘well- e) A more eloquently ambitious and, at the same educated’, ‘socially sensitive’ and ‘public relations charismatic’ time, more complexly non-transparent ‘extra-jurisdictional’ cleric of the new age! ÌÁÕ 2006 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 5/23 Our Primate’s View

Cont. from previous page agement of understanding and the regarding the recent deletion (from the cen- sons, and given the specific circumstances strengthening of cooperation with the turies-held official ‘Title’ of the Pope) of of the recommencement of the sunken activity of Archbishop Christodoulos one Roman Catholic world without negotiat- the only ecclesiologically acceptable and Baltimore 2000 meeting (and up until then could not recall than the ‘election’ of ing the truth of Orthodoxy and her tradi- appropriate title of the ‘Patriarch of the ‘on equal terms’ conducted Official Theo- Metropolitan Irenaeus of Ierapolis as tion’* (Eleftheros Typos – official website). West’ which the then brave and simultane- logical Dialogue), it is required of the vigi- Patriarch of Jerusalem, with the document- We will not comment extensively ously pious Professor of Dogmatology, lant Orthodox that they maintain only the ed aftermath as well as the yet unclear on the tone and the content (one wonders Joseph Ratzinger, commemorated unequiv- highest scepticism and strictness. But details about ‘shady’ personalities and col- for whom is it intended?) of this arrogant ocally in his books and his lectures, remind- when, in our own yard, we do not have ana- laborations (Vavylis, Yiosakis, etc) paragraph with which His Beatitude was ing all of the value and stability of the first logous guarantees, how shall we demand kind enough to ‘decode’ the apparent undivided Christian millennium, with its them in international meetings and under- f) A careful perusal, none- ‘admiration’ of Pope Benedict XXVI for known ‘Pentarchy’? takings? theless, of the documents which for the the Church of Greece. And especially in its The writer who, during his post- Nonetheless, we hope that – from whole of the year 2005 are published in the present state to which is has been unde- graduate studies in Germany, was an enthu- here on – Archbishop Christodoulos will periodical ‘Ecclesia’ as so-called correc- servedly driven! What ecclesiastical reality siastic student, a friend and, finally, a col- disprove us, both inside and outside the tive measures via Encyclicals of the Holy the Church of Greece finds itself in at the league of the present Pope, now has diffi- Orthodox sphere, surpassing, as a ‘youthful Synod do not convince us as to any form of present hour – at least as an culty hoping in the sentiments expressed to weakness’, his entirely ‘luciferous’ ambi- ‘repentance’. Already, the inexperienced ‘Administration’ – is well known to all of the new Pope in his congratulatory telegram tions which the writer ‘read’ in his letter of and irregular language and syntax on the us, better than the ‘terrorizing’ journalists. on his worthy elevation, which he had reply and which follows this article. one hand betrays confusion and panic, yet Consequently, it would have been of greater declared with sincere enthusiasm. Included, also, is our own modest, formal there is no trace of soberness and contrition interest if the ‘self-congratulating’ For precisely these essential rea- but sincere congratulatory telegram. for what is to be done in the future by the Archbishop had told us forthrightly since love of God. The preparations, though, for when and for what reasons he has sudden- the ‘sovereign’ visit to the Vatican, and the ly become so ‘open’, ‘conciliatory’ and Athens, May 12, 1998 accompanying enthusiastic ‘talk of tri- ‘yielding’, despite his hitherto rhetoric and umph’ are enough to repel even the most to the contrary costless ‘flares’ against honest ‘pacifist’. A sample of the stark Papism and its particular organs. hypocrisy and indiscretion prevalent is the One wonders, has His Beatitude, following extract from a recent interview of in his optimism, realized that the truly To His Beatitude to Fotis Nakos. multi-qualified ‘sweetly-spoken’, ‘courte- His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia Noting correctly in the beginning ous’ and always ‘with a child-like smile’ that ‘we all have a duty to Christian soci- Benedict XXVI, ‘turned’ on us in the most eties’ in a common ‘path of responsibili- cunning manner on the enormous, for the ty’, he hastened to add, with the following Orthodox, world-wide problem of ‘crown’ of his self-consciousness: ‘I be- Uniatism? Your Eminence, dear Brother lieve that one step on this path will be Has His Beatitude forgotten so constituted by the meeting at the Vatican quickly the pandemonium of the Uniates Your Archepiscopal wishes and prayers are for my humble person a valu- with Pope Benedict XXVI who sees in the which he himself witnessed (together with Church of Greece a Church which is the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Archbishop able and necessary spiritual contribution. In the highly responsible task open and dynamic, with a presence and a of Albania and others) at the funeral of Pope which the unsearchable Divine Love has called me to through the honor- voice that reaches way beyond the bor- John-Paul II? able election of the Brother Bishops, ders of our land, with a presence that is Did he not also read comments who comprise the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, I truly feel the genuine and authentic in the European need for the support of all, Clergy and lay people, and especially of the setting, a Church that seeks the encour- * the bold print is ours. Bishops of our holy Mother Orthodox Church.

Sydney 30-3-1998 These are critical times. Circumstances do not favour the spread of the pure word of the Gospel in the hardened and dry hearts of modern peo- ple – children of the impersonal electronic perspective and mentality. Only a small amount of time separates us from the millennial anniversary marking 2,000 years since the Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. I ask myself His Beatitude whether, after the passage of these two millennia, our beloved Archbishop CHRISTODOULOS of Athens and All Greece Orthodoxy, in grievous times, is not like a ‘babe in swaddling clothes’ … Athens weak, humbled and anemic, which is played with like a toy in the hands of heartless patronisers.

In the face of the above problems, along with many other varieties of problems, which I as the Head of the Church of Greece – the source of hope and life-giving water from which all Orthodox hope to draw spiri- tual nourishment – am called to deal with, I invite you also, dear Brother, In sending special congratulations to Your Beatitude for your worthy to be enlisted. election as Head of the Holy Apostolic Church of Greece, we fervently wish together with our Bishops, other Clergy and Orthodox people of the Looking towards your undivided assistance and contribution, I thank you Antipodes, a long and blessed term of service, as a God-pleasing wholeheartedly for your Archepiscopal prayers. response to critical modern times. I reciprocate every good wish in a brotherly spirit, with all the love of the common Lord Jesus.

Archbishop STYLIANOS of Australia Archbishop CHRISTODOULOS of Athens

NOTE: The emphasis added is our own MAY 2006 6 /24 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA Estia Foundation of Australia Caring for People with Special Needs

The Estia Foundation of Australia is a non-profit organisation headed by the Greek Or- an increased number of seizures just thodox Archdiocese, which provides respite and permanent care for young people with before or during their menstrual cycle. • Driving. A driver’s license may be intellectual and physical disabilities. One of the primary aims of the organisation is to This may be due to increased fluid held as long as one’s seizures are well- increase awareness of the plight of the disabled, and to decrease common misconceptions retention, and alteration in hormonal controlled. regarding disability. Thanks to the kind support of The Greek Australian VEMA, Estia pro- levels and in the blood levels of anti- • Having children. The vast majority duces the following article in each issue discussing a different disability and syndrome. epileptic medication. of women with epilepsy are able to We hope these will serve to enlighten and educate readers. • Missed medication have children without complications. • Severe changes in temperature However, close doctor’s supervision is • Stress necessary as seizures during a pregnancy Epilepsy (ΙΙ) • Photosensitivity. This is rare but involves can cause severe harm to the unborn a seizure being triggered by sensory child. Epilepsy is a condition that has long been conditions, such as, Alzheimer’s stimuli, such as, flickering sunlight, associated with a multitude of negative disease. strobe lights and television flicker. stereotypes. For years, many myths surrounded • Babies who are small for their gestational Epilepsy, suggesting that it was associated age How is Epilepsy diagnosed and detected? with damaging notions, such as, witchcraft • Babies who have seizures in their first and black magic. It is to this extent that we month of life Generally, the defining factor in diagnosing must examine the truth behind Epilepsy. • Babies who are born with abnormal brain Epilepsy is the presence of seizures. Once Following on from last month’s article, which structures an individual has suffered from a minimum focused on the characteristics of Epilepsy and • Bleeding into the brain of two seizures, which are not caused by a related Seizures, this month we aim to further • Abnormal blood vessels in the brain known medical condition, he/she is presumed debunk the myths related to Epilepsy. • Infections of the brain, such as, to have Epilepsy. meningitis Subsequent to this, a neurological examination What are the causes of Epilepsy? • Cerebral palsy will be undertaken in order to detect any • Intellectual disability abnormalities in brain-wave activity, further Approximately half of the people who have • Seizures occurring within days of a head highlighting the presence of the Epileptic Epilepsy will never know for sure what the injury condition. Mike, Who has Epilepsy, gives well-trained Estia staff cause of their condition is. However, there are • Fever-related seizures An EEG (electroencephalogram) can also the ‘thumbs - up’. a number of known causes of the condition. • Use of illicit drugs, such as, Cocaine predict if more seizures will occur. The • Sport and Leisure. The more active an These include: Aside from known causes, there are also a procedure of an EEG involves wires being individual is, the more likely that he/she • Family history. Those who have a number of risk factors associated with Epilepsy attached to the scalp in order to ‘read’ brain will not suffer from seizures. Therefore, family history are more likely to develop that can trigger seizures. These include: waves and activity. the enjoyment of sport and leisure epilepsy than those who have no genetic • Alcohol. Alcohol and antiepileptic activities is actually beneficial to the predisposition. However, if one has medications can interact in a negative What does the future look like for a person health of an individual with epilepsy. Epilepsy the risk of their children also manner. While the majority of people who has Epilepsy? o Cycling- Normal safety precautions developing the condition is low. with epilepsy can safely drink a mode- need be taken, such as wearing rate amount of alcohol, others fall into a Approximately 80% of adults with Epilepsy both a helmet, and brightly colored seizure even after a small amount. who are treated with seizure medications clothing. Traffic should however be • Diet. remain free of seizures for at least two years, avoided due to the possibility of a o Caffeine has been known to trigger and many never have seizures again. Many seizure occurring. seizures in some individuals. individuals who are seizure free for 2-4 o Horse riding- One should always o Some individuals suffer from years will stop taking their medication under wear a helmet, and never ride alone. seizures if they miss a meal and have doctor’s supervision, and will no longer have o Swimming- An individual with a low blood sugar level. This may further seizures. The more time that passes epilepsy should always swim with be combated with regular meals and without seizures, the greater the chance of a companion who is aware of their eating immediately after awaking in staying seizure-free. condition, and who is able to take the morning. Of children with Epilepsy, 20% never have necessary precautions in the case of • Infections and illness. another seizure after stopping their first a seizure. Underwater swimming, o Children are predisposed to having a seizure medication. A further 50-60% will such as, scuba diving should be seizure if they suffer from infections, gain seizure control using their second seizure avoided however. Group-home housemates, Helen and Michael enjoing such as, tonsillitis and earache. medication. 30% of children with epilepsy The presence of epilepsy in no way impacts on the 2005 Estia Ghristmas Party. Both individuals have o Allergies may also provoke seizures will remain on seizure medication for the epilepsy. a person’s skills, abilities and qualifications. o Diarrhea and vomiting can trigger duration of their life. To this extent, a person with epilepsy will be • Bran injury. Sever head injury is the seizures because they can prevent Those who suffer from Epilepsy, even without equally as valuable in employment as any most common known cause of Epilepsy your body from absorbing anti- being able to rid themselves of seizures, can other individual. in young adults. epileptic medication. live a safe and fulfilling life. By planning • Strokes, tumors, and injuries are the • Lack of sleep. It is important for an ahead, and learning to recognize seizure most common risk factors of Epilepsy in individual to have a consistent and triggers, one can enjoy almost all pleasures Reference List: the middle-aged individual. regular sleeping pattern in order to avoid and activities that life has to offer. Some Epilepsy Action Australia, www.epilepsy.org.au, as • In people over 65, the most common having a seizure. activities that may be enjoyed with caution cited on the 10th of March 2006. risk factors are strokes and degenerative • Menstruation. Some women suffer from include: Epilepsy.com: Epilepsy and seizure Information for patients and health professionals, www.epilepsy.com, as cited on the 6th of March 2006. Estia organises a major fundraising Dinner once every two years in order to meet short fall of funds needed to continue our Epilepsy Foundation, http://www.efa.org/ answerplace/About-Epilepsy.cfm, as cited on the 3rd of services. Some 800 people attend Estia’s fundraising Dinners including high level Government representatives from State March 2006. and Federal. The next Dinner will be held on October 20th 2006. Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria, www.epinet.org. au, as cited on the 10th of March 2006. Estia’s goal is to extend our Permanent Living services with more group homes. National Institute of Neurological Disorders Estia Dinners have proved immensely successful in the past and we hope to continue this trend with your assistance and and Stroke, www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/epilepsy/ epilepsy.htm , as cited on 8th of March 2006. support. Tickets will be available from the offices of ESTIA in the near future. Compiled by: Irini Tsiouharas Lay out by: V. Revd Angelo Alifierakis We ask for your help in the following areas. Any way you may be able assist, will be much appreciated. We need prizes for: * Silent Auction * Door prizes * Small items for our dinner gift bags ESTIA FOUNDATION 20 Wharf Road Gladesville If you can help, would you please favour us with a reply as soon as possible (ASAP) P.O.Box 17 Gladesville NSW 2111 Phone: (02) 9816 1859 Fax: (02) 9879 4199 We will gladly collect any gifts you may wish to donate by ringing (02) 9816 1859. www.estia.org.au email: [email protected] Estia’s Annual Dinner, 20 October 2006 ÌÁÕ 2006 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 7/25 Facts & Stats Beijing Greenpeace challenges wakes up covered in sand UN figures on Chernobyl Beijing was covered in a thin layer of sand recently, bringing another By Mara Bellaby reminder that the desert is moving closer to the Chinese capital. Environmental group Greenpeace says in a People drove to work in cars that had report that more than 90,000 people were been coloured yellow and brown by the likely to die of cancers caused by radiation dust that blew in overnight. from the Chernobyl explosion, sharply Shopkeepers cleared the pavement with challenging a UN report that predicted the brooms. death toll would be about 4,000. The Beijing Environmental Protection The report’s conclusion underlines the uncer- Bureau said the sandstorm was the worst tainty that remains about the health effects of to hit so far this year. the world’s worst nuclear accident as its 20th “We tell people who have problems anniversary approaches. breathing, especially the old, to stay at A reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power home,” one official said. plant in Ukraine exploded on April 26, 1986, The sandstorm originated on the border spewing heavy levels of radioactive fallout of China and Mongolia and started over much of Europe. affecting Beijing late last month, the The fallout was particularly severe in north- bureau said on its website. ern reaches of Ukraine, western Russia and in China has 2.6 million square kilometres much of Belarus. of desert, or nearly 2.5 times the coun- Areas immediately around the now-inopera- try’s total farmland, according to govern- tive plant remain off-limits, but other areas that ment statistics. got significant fallout are inhabited and health More than a quarter of China’s total land anxiety is common in those areas. area has been classified as desert and its A report by the Chernobyl Forum, which degradation is adversely affecting the comprises the United Nations’ International leads to dangerous recommendations and the past 15 years, suggesting that the increase was lives of more than 400 million people, or Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and several relocation of people in contaminated areas.” due to Chernobyl radiation. 30 per cent of its population, according to other UN groups, last year said only 56 deaths The Chernobyl Forum report had suggested “On the basis of demographic data, during the statistics. could be confirmed as being connected to that many of the health problems and com- the last 15 years, 60,000 people have died AFP Chernobyl and that the number of deaths con- plaints in the regions around Chernobyl were additionally in Russia because of the nected with the accident ultimately would connected with unhealthy lifestyles such as Chernobyl accident and estimates of the total Jobless men probably be around 4,000. heavy drinking and smoking and with a culture death toll for Ukraine and Belarus could be But Greenpeace, in a report citing data from of victimisation. another 140,000,” Greenpeace’s international Russia, Belarus and Ukraine - and extrapolat- Greenpeace countered that statistics from office said in a statement. the new ing from those figures - disagreed and suggest- Belarus indicate there will be 270,000 cases of The report also finds that “radiation from the ed the Chernobyl Forum report was deliberate- cancer attributable to Chernobyl radiation disaster has had a devastating effect on sur- rising underclass ly misleading. throughout the region and that 93,000 of those vivors” other than cancer cases - “damaging “It is appalling that the IAEA is whitewash- cases are likely to be fatal. immune and endocrine systems, leading to Nearly a quarter of a million men in the Greenpeace also cited a report by Veniamin accelerated aging, cardiovascular and blood prime of their lives are no longer looking ing the impacts of the most serious nuclear accident in human history,” Ivan Blokov of Khudolei of the Centre for Independent illnesses, psychological illnesses, chromosome for work - three times as many as a gen- Environmental Assessment of the Russian aberrations and an increase of deformities in eration ago. Greenpeace’s Russia office said in a statement. “Denying the real implications is not only Academy of Sciences that found sharply fetuses and children.” Bureau of Statistics figures show female increased mortality in western Russia over the AP employment has boomed in the past 25 insulting to the thousands of victims but it also years while the number of jobless men aged 25-44 has soared. In 1978, more than 90 per cent of men aged 25 to 44 had a full-time job, where- Heart-healthy Mediterranean diet as in the 12 months to March, that pro- portion dropped to 81 per cent, Fairfax newspapers reported recently. cuts Alzheimer’s risk The number in part-time jobs jumped from 2 to 7 per cent, while those with no A Mediterranean-style diet that appears to cut the risk of heart dis- with being bad for our heart turn out to be bad for our brain,” said Dr work jumped from 7 to 12 per cent. ease also may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease, a new study Marilyn Albert, a Johns Hopkins neurology professor and spokes- The sharpest growth was in those not suggests. woman for the Alzheimer’s Association. looking for work, from just under 4 per People who followed the diet were up to 40 per cent less likely than The list includes high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, cent of prime-aged males in 1978, to those who largely avoided it to develop Alzheimer’s during the course smoking and uncontrolled diabetes, she said. almost 9 per cent now - or nearly of the research, scientists reported. So it makes sense that a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol 250,000. Still, more research must be done before the diet can be recommend- would reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, said Albert, who was not ed to ward off Alzheimer’s, said Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas of the involved in the new study. Columbia University Medical Centre in New York, lead author of the The new work is among the most convincing so far to show an effect Victorian drivers research. of diet on Alzheimer’s risk, she said. The work was recently published online by the Annals of Neurology. Such large studies are important, she said, “to add to the body of evi- distrust speed The diet he tested includes eating lots of vegetables, legumes, fruits, dence to help persuade people they really can do something in their cereals and fish, while limiting intake of meat and dairy products, daily lives to reduce risk.” cameras the most drinking moderate amounts of alcohol and emphasising monounsatu- Scarmeas and colleagues followed 2,258 elderly residents of north- Victorian drivers have the nation’s high- rated fats, such as in olive oil, over saturated fats. ern Manhattan for an average of four years. est distrust of speed cameras, while Previous research has suggested that such an approach can reduce The participants were asked in detail about their dietary habits and almost a third admit to breaking speed the risk of heart disease. evaluated every 18 months or so for signs of dementia. laws during their daily commute, a sur- Prior research has also suggested that certain components of the None showed any dementia at the start of the study, but by the end, vey shows. Car insurer AAMI released Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, 262 had developed Alzheimer’s. new statistics gleaned from its claims Scarmeas said. To look for an effect of diet, the researchers gave each participant a data, and a survey of 2,400 people But he said the previous work has tended to focus on individual score of 0 to 9 to nine on a scale that measured how closely they fol- nationwide, as it accused motorists of nutrients like vitamin C or foods like fish. lowed the Mediterranean diet. ignoring the risks of speeding. The By studying a comprehensive diet instead, the new research could Compared to those showing the lowest adherence, those who scored research shows 64 per cent of Victorian take possible interactions between specific foods and nutrients into 4 or 5 showed 15 per cent to 25 per cent less risk of developing motorists believe speeding fines are account, he said. Alzheimer’s during the study, while those with higher scores had “mainly a revenue-raising exercise”. The idea that a heart-healthy diet could also help fight Alzheimer’s about 40 per cent less risk. fits in with growing evidence that “the kinds of things we associate AP ÌÁÕ 2006 8/26 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA Windows to Orthodoxy SAINT THOMAS – THE APOSTLE FULL OF FAITH: An Exegesis of John 20:24-31 (Part II) In the last issue of VEMA, we began to exam- when the disciples were assembled in the risen Lord in terms of ‘Lord’ and ‘God’, St ine the Bible reading, which is dedicated to the house again, Jesus is depicted appearing to Thomas discerned Christ as the glorified Son Sunday of St Thomas the apostle directly one them all, including Thomas this time. of God in the Father’s eternal kingdom to week after Pascha. In this brief study, we saw Furthermore we see Jesus following exactly which all Christians look forward with eager that, far from being an ‘unbeliever’ as is com- the same procedure as he had done before: expectation. In this way, far from simply being monly said, St Thomas was an apostle full of upon entering the house, He said: “Peace be an utterance which acknowledged the pres- zeal, fervour and unwavering commitment to with you!” And upon receiving the Lord’s ence of the risen Lord, Thomas’ confession the Lord not only during Jesus’ earthly life but peace, the apostle Thomas was immediately expressed the very identity of Jesus as ‘one also especially after the Resurrection. In this set free from any confusion since the peace with His Father’ (Jn 10:30). In this proclama- issue we continue our reflection on St Thomas, and presence of the Lord was upon him. tion we see the verification of what the open- the apostle full of faith. Immediately Jesus said to Thomas: “Put your ing words of the Gospel had announced, finger here and see my hands. Reach out namely that “in the beginning was the Word, Unlike the other Gospel writers, St your hand and put it in my side. Do not and the Word was with God, and the Word was John the Evangelist wanted to emphasize, in doubt (ìÞ ãßíïõ Üðéóôïò) but believe” (Jn God” (Jn 1:1). The apostle Thomas was able to quite some detail, the reaction of the apostles – 20:27). Even though Thomas was invited to discern that the one who had become a human particularly St Thomas - at the news that Christ put his fingers into the side of Christ, the Evan- person and dwelt on earth was the one “full of aspect of faith not based purely on sight.10 had risen. In the case of Thomas the apostle, gelist does not indicate whether this was actu- grace and truth” (Jn 1:14). we discover that he wanted nothing less than to ally carried through. One would imagine that Conclusion meet the risen Lord for himself. Indeed, this since Thomas had received the ‘peace’ of the Upon recognizing Jesus to be ‘God’, At the end of this study the authentic desire by Thomas to meet the Lord personally Lord, he no longer would have had the need to Thomas was able to dedicate himself entirely personality of St Thomas has become clear. and not simply to depend on somebody else’s touch the side of Jesus’ wounds. to Him. His total commitment to the risen Lord Far from being a disbeliever, St Thomas was account is heightened by the Gospel writer in is betrayed in the predicate ‘my’ which leaves the apostle responsible for offering all future his description of the continued insistence of It is highly significant, as Archbishop no doubt as to the extent of Thomas’ own per- Christians a most exalted portrait of Jesus 8 the disciples to convince Thomas of the Stylianos again accurately noted, that when sonal faith. Indeed the ‘my’ is of vital impor- Christ as ‘Lord’ and ‘God’. Indeed it was St Resurrection. In verse 25 we read: “So the Christ invited Thomas to put his fingers into tance as it betrays not only Thomas’ unwaver- Thomas who was able to uncover the deepest other disciples told (Ýëåãïí) him, “We have His side, he did not say for example: “do not ing faith but also his untiring commitment to identity of Jesus Christ, thereby affirming seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless be faithless [êáé ìçí Ýóï Üðéóôïò]” but “do not the Lord. On this issue, a modern commenta- Jesus to be the very revelation of the life-giv- 3 I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and become faithless”. This detail, usually over- tor of the Gospel of St John, wrote: “my Lord ing mystery of God. In this way, he was able put (âÜëù) my finger in the mark of the looked by most biblical scholars is highly sig- and my God… confesses to the risen Jesus that express most succinctly, in his confession of nails and my hand in his side, I will not nificant since it affirms once again the he [Thomas] belongs to him as his willing sub- faith, the intention of the entire Gospel: name- believe” (Jn 20:25). One can only imagine Evangelist’s favourable portrait of the apostle ject; he adores him and henceforth will serve ly that all have been called to believe that Jesus 9 why the disciples continuously insisted in Thomas. With the phrase in question, Jesus him as he deserves.” In this way, Thomas had is not only the Messiah and the Son of God but relating their encounter of the risen Jesus to was saying: ‘do not change or develop into fulfilled the words of Jesus who had invited all also ‘God’, divine with exactly the same divin- Thomas. Most probably the reason lies in that becoming a disbeliever; that is, do not turn out his followers to honour Him as they honour ity as God the Father. And in being divine, Thomas would have unremittingly discarded to be unfaithful’. On the contrary, the inference God: “so that all may honour the Son just as Jesus Christ continues to be the one who gives their account, wanting instead to have his own is: ‘remain faithful’. And so we can see that they honour the Father” (Jn 5:23). That life to all those who believe in Him, and personal meeting with the risen Lord. To be Jesus was simply protecting Thomas from an Thomas had taken a most profound leap of together with the Holy Spirit, who leads all to sure, eight days had to pass before Thomas ensuing faithlessness and not one which faith is shown clearly in the fact that up to that the Father. would meet Jesus for himself. However, in that already existed. This is important to note point no body had made such a proclamation time we learn that Thomas had been continu- because many modern commentators see in of faith in Jesus Christ. The one who was cru- Philip Kariatlis ously subjected to the insistence of his fellow the words of Jesus a rebuke which is to miss cified but now alive would be worshipped in Academic Secretary and Associate Lecturer disciples’ testimony to having seen the Lord. It the point entirely.4 Still other scholars have precisely the same manner as God the Father. St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological is the imperfect tense of the verb ‘told’ in seen in this appeal of Jesus a reference to all College Greek [Ýëåãïí] which indicates a continuous unbelievers in the Thomas community, using Jesus’Universal Blessing of Believing Without action on the part of the disciples to convince the figure of Thomas as a literary device.5 Seeing Thomas. This repeated ‘telling’ however Rather, Jesus’ words were an appeal to Tho- The risen Jesus ended His dialogue resulted in nothing since Thomas had to expe- mas, and by extension to all believers, to re- with Thomas with the following words: “have 1 Raymond Brown, The Gospel According to John, Anchor Bible 29a (Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday, 1966), rience the personal presence of Jesus for him- main firm in their faith. you believed [Thomas] because you have 1025. self. seen me? Blessed are those who have not 2 Cf. Archbishop Stylianos of Australia, ‘St Thomas and Thomas’ Confession of Faith seen and yet have come to believe” (Jn the Truth’, Voice of Orthodoxy 11.5(1990): 42. Indeed Thomas’ response is very Following his ultimate self-surren- 20:29). These words are not to be understood 3 IBID clear: he will only believe once he puts his fin- der, which came about as a response to God’s as a judgement or reproach by Jesus to Thomas 4 Murray wrote: “here [the Evangelist] adds a saying which is half rebuke and half appeal”. Georgy R. Beasley- gers into Jesus’ side. In this case, we see that act of gratuitous self-disclosure, Thomas was who had also believed by beholding the risen the Gospel writer used a very strong verb to Murray, John, Word Biblical Commentary 36 (Nashville: led to proclaim ecstatically his unreserved Lord just like the other disciples. The main Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), 385. describe this action - âÜëù – where he could acceptance in the risen Lord with the following purpose of the Evangelist throughout the entire 5 Cf Rudolf Schnackenburg, The Gospel According to St have used a softer verb, like ‘to place’ – ôßèçìé. confession: “My Lord and my God!” (Jn Gospel was to lead his readers to a deepened John, vol.3, trans. David Smith and G.A. Kon (N.Y.: According to some Biblical scholars, the verb 20:28). This constitutes the most climactic faith in, and commitment to, Christ. And so, Crossroad, 1982), 332. 1 6 Cf Ps 35:23-24. Interestingly, there was also the cult of âÜëù indicated the idea of energetic thrust. moment in the entire narrative since it discerns with these words, the Evangelist was inviting That is to say, it was not enough for this apos- the Roman Emperor who was addressed as “dominus et the true identity of Jesus as Theanthropos (the all to embrace the ‘Word made flesh’. Just as deus noster [lord and our god]”. At the time of writing of tle simply to place his hands onto Jesus’ side, God-man) and therefore the completion of Christ was a permanent living reality for the the Fourth Gospel, the Roman Emperor Domitian (81- but instead wanted to plunge his fingers into Thomas’journey of faith. In the Old Testament Evangelist, so too, was St John concerned to 96AD) wished to be addressed in this way. Consequently the marks of his side. As Archbishop Stylianos it may not seem at all unlikely that St John may have want- the juxtaposition of ‘Lord’and ‘God’was often lead others to the Risen Lord as well. Knowing ed Thomas’ confession to counter the claims to divinity of underlined, Thomas was not simply satisfied 6 encountered as a reference to God. Therefore already (ca 90AD) that ensuing generations the Roman Emperor. with seeing the risen Lord, as the other disci- there is no question that in this confession would not have had any such extraordinary 7 Eschatological is simply a word meaning the ‘end or ples had been, but wished to immerse himself there is the proclamation of the unity of Jesus appearances of Christ, the Gospel found it future times’ which the Church claims that, with the resur- fully, with fingers and hands, indeed with all with the Father. All that Jesus had said and appropriate to put the entire Thomas incident rection of Christ, we are living already by way of foretaste. his faculties, into Christ’s exposed wounds in 8 Archbishop Stylianos of Australia, St Thomas and the done during His earthly life was suddenly seen into perspective by reminding readers of the Truth, 43. Incidentally Thomas’ personal confession of order that he may relieve to some extent the 7 from another transfigured and eschatological importance of believing without seeing. In this faith is similar to that of Mary Magdalene: “They have humanity and fleshliness of Christ before con- perspective by Thomas - the perspective which way, the Gospel wanted to emphasise that taken away my Lord” (Jn 20:13). Both use the predicate fessing Him, as we shall see, as ‘Lord’ and the three disciples had momentarily seen at there was no reason why the ‘faith experience’ ‘my’ which show the person to whom they are totally ded- ‘God’.2 icated. Christ’s Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. of all future generation could not match the 9 George R. Beasley-Murray, John, 386. Jesus’ Invitation for Thomas to Touch Him. faith of the apostles as a whole. In this way the 10 Cf Rodolf Bultmann, The Gospel of John. A And it happened, eight days later, Furthermore, in proclaiming the Gospel writer affirmed an equally profound Commentary, (Oxford: Blackwell, 1971), 695-696. ÌÁÕ 2006 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 9/27 Windows to Orthodoxy PRAYING THE SCRIPTURES IN ORTHODOX WORSHIP SUNDAY OF THE MYRRH-BEARING WOMEN Gospel Passage (Mark 15:43-16:8) MARK 15:43-16:8 With the Crucifixion of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pontius Pilate, the Governor of Judea to ask for His body, so The angel appeared at the tomb and cried out to the that it could be given a proper burial according to the Jewish myrrh-bearing women, “Myrrh is fitting for the dead, rites (Mk 15:43-44). Crucifixion, the Roman form of public while decay is proven alien to Christ. Instead, proclaim, execution in the 1st century, was a slow and painful death ‘The Lord is Risen! Granting the world great mercy.’ ” according to which the victim would suffocate. Once the death of Jesus was verified, His body was given to Joseph, who First Kathisma of Second Tone wrapped it in the fine linen he had purchased, and laid it in a tomb hewn out of the rock (Mk 15: 45-46). Introductory Remarks On the first day of the week, very early in the morning before The third Sunday after Pascha in the Orthodox Church is ded- sunrise, Mary Magdalene together with Mary the mother of icated to the feast of the Myrrh-bearing women. It was these James, and Salome, came to anoint the body of Jesus (Mk 16:1- female disciples who were the first to witness the Resurrection 3). Upon arriving, the huge stone which stood against the tomb of Christ and therefore become “the apostles to the apostles.” had been rolled away, and entering the tomb they suddenly saw Before we attempt to examine the gospel narrative which com- a young man clothed in a long white robe, who said to them that memorates the feast of the Myrrh-bearing women, it would be the crucified Jesus had risen from the dead (Mk 16:4-5). The how significant the proclamation of the Myrrh-bearing women significant to briefly look at the events before Jesus’ female disciples were told to proclaim the news of the is when we reflect on the significance of the Resurrection event, Resurrection – namely His Passion, as it will allow us to gain a Resurrection to all the disciples but because they were afraid, as it is to this that we now turn. better understanding of the important role of the Myrrh-bearing they kept it to themselves (Mk 16:6-8). women who announce the Resurrection. It is interesting that the gospels describe the Resurrection by The Significance of the Resurrection of Jesus The gospels relate to us that the Passion of Christ begins with- affirming that the tomb visited by the Myrrh-bearing women, As we have seen, the female disciples are the first to give wit- in the Garden of Gesthemane. It is here that Jesus struggles where Jesus had been buried, was empty. That is to say the ness to the reality of the Resurrection, becoming in this way its within His heart; He knows what will unfold before Him; He gospel narratives do not portray Jesus coming out of the tomb first proclaimers. Hence, the question that must be asked is knows that He will die. But not even death will stop Him from as is popularly believed or as commonly depicted in Western what is the meaning of the Resurrection of Christ? what He must do. Jesus takes courage; His fear turns to religious art. What is described is the empty tomb and the angel Modern society which is primarily secular and post-Christian strength. He must die in order to give life. proclaiming the Resurrection, followed by the appearances of would consider the Resurrection event improbable on scientif- Christ is empowered, yet everyone and all things are weak- the risen Jesus to the disciples (Mk 16:9-12; Luke 24:13-43; ic and historical grounds. Furthermore it may also allege that ened and abandon Him. Where are all the disciples? Why are John 20:11-21:25). the Resurrection is perhaps theologically irrelevant for human they not standing faithfully by the side of their Master? Why is The empty tomb is an indication of the authenticity of the persons who are no longer in need of a saviour, since they have it, that after all that they have heard, seen and experienced in the apostolic witness to the Resurrection of Jesus, for what is relat- become “the measure of all things.” Contemporary Christian person of Christ, now at this critical hour, they have abandoned ed is not an abstract representation of the Resurrection event, “theologies” while attempting to correlate the Christian mys- Jesus from fear? but the historical and concrete testimony of the empty tomb and tery with modern experience and reality, perhaps also view the During the Passion and Crucifixion only few remained coura- the angel proclaiming the Resurrection. Resurrection not as a historical and concrete event but as some- geously by the side of Christ – His mother, John the beloved A further verification of the authenticity of the apostolic wit- thing of merely spiritual, metaphysical and theological signifi- disciple, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, and the Myrrh-bear- ness to the Resurrection is the fact that the Myrrh-bearing cance. Such “theologies” would view the Resurrection in terms ing women. The courage shown by these women during the women were the first to witness it and proclaim it, something only of symbolical meaning. Passion and death of Jesus is a powerful expression of their which would have been perceived as inconceivable in a patriar- For the Orthodox Church the Resurrection is neither a sym- commitment to Him. chal society of that time. bol nor a theological interpretation of the significance of the This commitment is a reflection of their love and devotion to Jesus breaks this image of inequality and inferiority by liber- Christ event. It is simultaneously reality and a mystery. This Jesus from the beginning of His ministry up until His glorious ating women from the stronghold of a patriarchal dominated paschal mystery is historically grounded, yet is beyond histori- Resurrection. society. cal and scientific assertion. According to the gospels, Jesus died For this reason, the Church through the gospel reading for the This is illustrated through the inclusion of women as Jesus’ both for the sins of humanity and to bestow life in all its abun- third Sunday after Pascha commemorates the Myrrh-bearing disciples and furthermore by the fact that it was women who dance – that is eternal life – for the entire created cosmos. women, honouring both their courageous commitment to the stood by His Passion and death and who first gave witness to That is to say, with the Resurrection, salvation is given to suffering Christ and their witness to the Resurrection. the reality of the Resurrection of Christ. We will appreciate just humanity. But what is salvation? Salvation in Orthodox theolo- gy is ultimately deification. It is the experience and participa- tion of humanity in the fullness of divine life and love. It is the fullness of life, expressed ultimately through love, as love. Deification is eschatologically completed in eternity, in the heavenly kingdom, but begins here and now, and is foretasted Questions & Answers par excellence within the sacramental life of the Church as the body of the crucified and risen Christ. However, the mystery of salvation lies in the fact that the ical Bishops, and the fact that the Bishop presides over the human person must grow more God-like by becoming ever Q Why is the Bishop so important? eucharistic life of his diocese, in continuity with the rest of the more human. The fullness of what it means to be human, which Church. From the very earliest times each local church had its is love, is captured in these words – amo ergo sum, “I love, The Office of the Bishop begins from Apostolic Bishop (see Philippians) 1:1) whose task it is to be “God’s therefore I am.” Christ the theanthropos [God-man] recreates times. The Apostles set Bishops over the Churches steward,” overseeing the life of His Church (Titus 1:7). humanity and allows all human persons to participate in the A which they established. Thus in St. Paul’s letter to So the early Church Father was right: without a Bishop, there mystery of divine humanity. It is the paschal mystery, which Timothy, we read: “The saying is sure: if anyone is no continuity with the One, Holy, Catholic & Apostolic begins with the Incarnation and is completed with Resurrection aspires to the office of Bishop, he desires a noble Church established by Christ. That is why the Bishop is so of Jesus, bearing the first fruits for the union of humanity with task;” and there follows a list of qualifications for the office of important. divinity. In Christ, divinity assumes humanity and humanity the Bishop. There are several things which indicate why the **** unites with divinity. If the Resurrection of Jesus is considered Bishop is so important. The English word “Bishop” comes From the Orthodox Church: 455 Questions and Answers, the “feast of feasts” in Orthodox worship, since it is in this event from the Greek word “Episkopos” which means “overseer”. by Stanley S. Harakas, published by Light and Life. that the fullness of life was bestowed as gift to all humanity and The Bishop is the overseer of the work of the Church in any If you have any questions about the Orthodox faith the entire world, we can appreciate the reason why the Church given place. One of the early Fathers of the Church put it this dedicates the third Sunday after Pascha to the Myrrh-bearing which you would like answered in the VEMA, send way: “Where the Bishop is, there is the Church.” women. The Myrrh-bearing women are an ultimate example of The Bishop embodies the Apostolic faith, discipline, and them to love and devotion to the person and event of Jesus, Christ cru- sacramental existence of the Church, in communion with all cified and risen, and through this feast the Church calls all of us Vema -Q.&A., the other Bishops of the Church. We know that we belong to to imitate the example of the Myrrh-bearing women, that is, to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ when P.O.Box M59 Marrickville South, follow and to love Christ with “all our heart, all our soul, all our we are in communion with and under the spiritual direction of NSW 2204 mind, and with all our strength” (Mk 22:30), for He is “the res- a canonical Bishop. urrection and the life” (John 11:25). All these dimensions of church life (faith, discipline, sacra- or e-mail them to: mental life) are guaranteed to us through the Apostolic Anthony Papantoniou Succession of the Bishop, his membership in synod of canon- [email protected] Graduate of St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College ÌÁÕ 2006 10/28 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

Some Reflections on Globalisation By Father Dimitri Tsakas globalisation. Ethical issues relate to influ- lation, and the privatisation of essential social direct investment (FDI). Increased competition ences on the democratic nature of domestic services, traditionally the domain of domestic is assumed to boost goods quality and price Globalisation arouses often passionate politics (and the absence of proper democratic governments, all in the hope of market integra- falls. Effortless avenues of communication responses within its conflicting connotations. processes at the trans-national level), with the tion and subsequent economic evolution. Thus (not least of which is the Internet), facilitate the In the broadest possible sense it espouses ideas environment, and with the human rights and as early as 1944, the World Bank and the IMF dissemination of ideas and information. of a world so interconnected that to exist in equity debate. Political and economic dimen- were created to enforce the principles of neo- Access to mass audiences on a global scale can complete isolation is increasingly a difficult sions address issues of state sovereignty, liberal global economics. Margaret Thatcher be utilised for the good advancement of human proposition. income distribution, labour relations, and the and Ronald Reagan relentlessly embraced and rights accountability like never before. The embryonic foundations of its process in international flow of both currency and capital. applied neo-liberal ideology to the domestic Opportunities exist for the nurturing of a glob- the modern era occurred under the Pax The cultural facet speaks of the influences of sphere. Free trade talks were pursued through al community with some shared universal val- Britannica of colonisation in the 19th century, globalisation over ethnicity, identity and a ris- GATT since 1949, until 1995, when at the ues and respect for diversity. If managed prop- if only initially as an administrative route for ing cultural hegemony. Although differing def- Uruguay round of talks, the WTO was formed erly and wisely advocates say, the potential of the exploitation of colonial rule and the eco- initions emphasise various dimensions, socio- to preside over transgression of agreements. In globalisation for good, is immense. nomic advantage of colonial powers. With the political and economic issues are heavily inter- 1994, the North American Free Trade If supporters of globalisation see the potential benefit of maritime power and the capacity of related and the global economy (with its socio- Agreement (NAFTA) was signed, creating the for immense good, critical reflection reveals political power, European states assumed cul- cultural effects) in conjunction with formida- largest free trade zone in the world. somewhat of a chasm between that potential tural supremacy and engaged in massive pro- ble technological progress forms the basis of Advocates of economic globalisation place and the current reality for most of the global grammes of global expansion. The party came this paper’s understanding of contemporary strong emphasis on neo-liberal principles as an population. In the realm of pragmatism, there to an abrupt end between the world wars when globalisation. avenue of immense economic benefit. Much is no conclusive evidence that a global com- protectionist policies were pursued in response The current arena has evolved through agree- of this assumption rests on the work of two munity will necessarily be good for all or that to the Great Depression. ments and the practices of key and powerful economic theorists, foundational in their con- all states are on an equal playing field to bene- Attempts to define globalisation run into players, including Europe and the United tributions to economic theory. Firstly, the 18th fit from Smith and Ricardo’s theories. many quandaries. Since its earliest appearance States, trans-national corporations, and institu- century ideas of economist Adam Smith that Two statements, roughly a year apart, both as a term in the 1960s it has been employed to tions such as the World Bank, International economies functioned on equilibriums guided made in articles found in the New York Times, illustrate a process, a condition, a system, a Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Trade by principles that operated like an “invisible symbolise the confusion and frustration which force, or a new age in the international system. Organisation (WTO). The process is still fluid hand”. Smith advocated free trade as the essen- often surrounds the debate about economic The expression largely refers to a global flow and so definitions can change via re-negotia- tial process through which supply and demand global policy. The first, by Friedman, was a encompassing economic, cultural, technical, tion of agreements or polarising world events. would be met naturally and to the benefit of all. response to the presence of protestors in communications, and intellectual notions. At The greater bulk of debate over globalisation Secondly, the 19th century political economist, Quebec against the Free Trade of the Americas its core, the idea essentially revolves around an is envisaged upon economics. Numerous other David Ricardo proposed a theory of compara- (FTAA) proposal in April 2001. In a scathing augmented interdependency and exchange that issues seem to emanate from the perceived tive advantage whereby a country would reap attack against the protest, he states…By has unfolded between actors on the global consequences of economic globalisation. gains from specializing in what it was best at inhibiting global trade expansion they [the stage. Suffice to say that globalisation is more often producing and then trading with other nations. protestors] are choking the only route out of Despite ambiguity and insufficiency that def- than not, discussed within a wide discourse on The result, he felt, would be increasing poverty for the world’s poor. Which is why initions of globalisation conjure, they direct economics. What has come to be known as the incomes and greater general prosperity. Both these ‘protestors’should be called by their real focus to evident developments on the world “Washington Consensus” dominates the cur- Smith and Ricardo were vehement opponents name: The coalition to keep Poor People stage entailing capitalism’s dominance and the rent discussion. This post World War II global of protectionism. Poor.1 Reporting on the Monterrey Internatio- re-orientation of states’ roles in accommodat- economic platform strongly advocates free Supporters of global neo-liberal economic nal Conference on Financing for Development ing this. Three dimensions are characteristic of trade, financial and capital liberation, deregu- models argue, countries are able to produce in Mexico a year later (March 2002), Kahn items for which they have a comparative writes…rather than an unstoppable force for advantage and subsequently trade for items development, globalization now seems like an others produce. In turn, this creates productive economic temptress, promising riches but economies that raise living standards and fos- often not delivering.2 ter innovation and initiative. Free trade leads to The net effect of global economics on world effective allocation of global resources and economic growth has been small. Data from increased output as specialisation spreads to the World Bank shows an average growth per different countries. Consequently, this pro- annum of 4.7% in the period 1950-1975 and duces lower prices, greater economic opportu- 3.1% between 1975 and 1999. Of greater con- nities through expanded trade, and better con- cern, are the data reflecting growing inequali- sumer choices. Trade barriers hinder this ties in income distribution across the globe. process and require elimination. Some propo- The income gap between the top 20% of the nents argue that much existing poverty in population in the world’s richest nations and poorer nations is indeed at least partly the the bottom 20% of the world’s poorest nations result of trade tariffs imposed by rich nations, maintained a ratio of 30-1 in 1960. By 1990 it a point that Oxfam and other non-government had reached 60-1, and when measured again3 in organisations take up with great conviction. 1998, the ratio had amplified to 78-1. The Other proposed benefits of globalisation trend is further evidenced in the most recent include greater access for entrepreneurs to UN Human Development Report which dis- finance through investment capital flows closes increased inequalities for the last two through foreign exchange markets and foreign ÌÁÕ 2006 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 11/29

decades. Its findings indicate a rise in inequality heavily on their support. For poorer states, the empire, Hardt and Negri construct a political ment of human needs and environmental sus- within 53 countries containing 80% of the glob- choice is not necessarily so autonomous a deci- hierarchy where the US and the G8 form tainability. al population while only 9 countries, containing sion, but nonetheless a common one. Wealthy monarchy, trans-national corporations and some Among groups representative of anti-globali- 4% of global population have seen improve- nations have laboured to make adjustments in states establish aristocracy, and where the UN sation there exists a sentiment that governance ment.4 In 1997, the Human Develop-ment accommodating global flows and turning them and NGOs compose representative democracy. of the global system is beyond the influence of Report found the combined wealth of the to their advantage. In responding with policies Not withstanding the difficulties of this estima- ordinary people and extensively more in the world’s three wealthiest families to be 135 bil- of deregulation, the easing of borders, and the tion (including that nation states effectively hands of corporations. In the escalating defi- lion USD. This was greater than the combined lowering of barriers, these states have facilitated authorise and create much of the ‘trans-nation- ciency of the popular capacity to influence glob- annual income of 600 million people in less- economic globalisation. Concurrently they al’ state, itself controlled by various state inter- al dynamics through the exercise of democratic developed nations. The statistical data reveals compete for influence over international policy ests), there is creative merit in what may turn out processes, the movement has resorted to protest an exacerbated and potent concentration of through bodies like the World Economic Forum to be, the potentially prophetic character of such and disruption of the symbols of economic wealth locked in the hands of the few. and Trilateral Commissions of advanced capi- an ideation. globalisation. These include meetings and con- The current globalisation picture is also one of talist countries. In many ways, advanced states When the WTO met at Seattle in December ferences of the IMF, World Bank, World augmented dislocation from traditional liveli- have renegotiated their role in the face of glob- 1999, delegates were surprised by an unprece- Economic Forum, and gatherings of the G8. hoods (often with no real alternative), decreas- alisation by enforcing the rules of global econo- dented intensity of protest against the confer- Still embryonic in its formation, the Anti- ing access to food and social services, and a my whilst enhancing national competitiveness. ence. Non-government organisations played Globalisation Movement is non-hierarchical in challenge to functional democracy where power If the very existence of statehood has not been pivotal roles in bringing together a vast diversi- nature (perhaps a positive thing), and lacks a is taken from sovereign states too weak not to threatened by globalisation, nonetheless the ty of people with varying agendas but common united voice (perhaps not a positive thing). Its accept the fiscal policies of globalisation in state’s absolute authority and jurisdiction has passions against current models of globalisa- strengths rest in a critique of neo-liberalism, the return for aid. A powerful media in conjunction been progressively abashed. Social services tra- tion. The protests at the Seattle conference are call for accountability and regulation of capital- with Trans-national corporations drive a trend ditionally identified as a state function, have commonly labelled the defining moment of the ism, for environmentally sustainable develop- toward homogenising mass culture for appeal to experienced a surrender to obsessions with anti-globalisation movement (AGM). Other ment, the development of global solidarity, and products and services thus challenging cultural competition promoting market forces. protests followed, in Washington at the IMF an invitation to develop genuine global democ- diversity and identity with wealthy western Multifaceted pressures hijack the state to serve annual conference and at the World Bank con- racy. forms. Increasingly, citizens are losing their the goals of international trade, often to the ference in Prague, both in 2000, at the World In an address to the World Commission on the democratic participation in decision making as detriment of its own population. In an environ- Economic Forum in Melbourne, and at the G8 Social Dimension of Globalisation, Kofi Annan they are affected by economic, cultural, envi- poignantly professed a belief that…the domi- ronmental, and other factors generated outside nant perspective on globalization must shift their nation state. from a narrow preoccupation with markets to a Neo-liberal economic demands have resulted broader preoccupation with people.9 The in a reduction of social welfare state interven- Commission recognised in the current model of tion culminating in a threat to the survival of the globalisation, morally unacceptable and politi- “compassionate state”. It is not uncommon for cally unsustainable global imbalances. It this to occur in a milieu where traditional appealed for a focus on people within democrat- avenues of social support have been decimated ic and effective states, an effective role for the by changing lifestyles leading to dislocation and UN, and a world that valued sustainable devel- poverty. opment with productive and equitable markets In a context where corporations have much underpinned by fair rules, and accountability. greater global mobility than unskilled labour, The epicentre of globalisation debate revolves states are pressured to weaken labour rights around markets. A balanced approach to the (often in return for IMF and World Bank loans). problems presented in this paper necessitates As the labour movement has weakened, states reform that transforms markets from tyrant to have pursued policies of economic rationalism servant of society. The alleged benefits of neo- that place business and trade above human liberal global markets have not been forthcom- need. The essence of globalization is a subordi- ing. The state has progressively retreated from nation of human rights, consumer, environmen- inherent social responsibilities to its citizens and tal rights, [and] democracy rights to the impera- people are confronted with a greater anxiety tives of global trade and investment. The UN ment where trans-national corporations can meeting in Genoa. about the world they live in. Human Development Report of 1999 labours manoeuvre immense capital across borders, the Several movements have been formed to Answers lie not in a retreat from all the the point further stating…The new rules of glob- state can be held to ransom. Considering that the oppose globalisation (or aspects of it), including dynamics of globalisation, especially at a time alization and the players writing them, focus on world’s 500 largest companies controlled some “Peoples Global Action”, “Global Exchange”, when so many issues require global manage- integrating global markets, neglecting the needs 70% of global trade, 80% of foreign direct and the “Direct Action Network”. The “World ment and interaction. The flow of ideas and of people that markets cannot meet. investment, and 30% of GDP throughout the Social Forum” (WSF) with its catchcry Another technology are great positives in the develop- The current framework, within which global 1990s, this scenario is not difficult to conceive. World is Possible, has gained some prominence. ment of a cosmopolitan world. A flattening of economies operate, means the production of This dynamic is a channel through which states’ AGMs can be categorised into several agendas. diversity, replaced with a consumerist cultural food is focused on the export of crops for policies can be dictated and their autonomy lim- Firstly, the small number of governments want- hegemony, is almost Orwellian in nature and wealthy nations predominantly, rather than local ited by a vigorous, triumphant capitalism which ing to protect borders from the infringements of frightening. In the absence of some apocalyptic consumption. The UN Food and Agricultural is aggressively consolidating its global hegemo- globalisation. These include typically authori- event, humanity finds itself in a pool of poten- Organisation discovered that in 1997, 78% of ny. tarian regimes such as North Korea and Syria. tial for immense communion and relationship malnourished children under the age of five in Poorer states are chiefly vulnerable in this Secondly, groups with social agendas, in the with the wonderful opportunity for unprece- the developing world lived in countries with a regard. Desperate to receive foreign direct vein of labour and trade unions opposing effects dented growth and evolution. food surplus.5 In other examples, 200 million investment and IMF or World Bank assistance, on employment. Thirdly, ethnic and cultural The “great potential” cannot come to fruition Indians went hungry in 1995 at a time when they are more prone to accept terms and condi- movements struggling for preservation of iden- under current conditions of “free market” glob- India exported $625 million of wheat and flour, tions that bring enormous hardship to their peo- tity. Fourthly, religious units resisting the per- alisation and without reform that begets equity, and $1.30 billion of rice. Similarly, while Brazil ple. Their hurdles in attracting foreign capital ceived degrading of traditional values and transparency, and participation. exported soybean for Japanese and European are exemplified by data produced by the United beliefs in the face of global dynamics. Lastly, livestock, hunger increased from 1/3 to 2/3 of Nations Conference on Trade and environmental lobbies, like Greenpeace com- 1 Friedman T., Protesting for Whom? The New York the population.6 Development. In the period 1993-1998, devel- bating the consequences of environmental neg- Times, 24 April 2001 The unregulated movement of global capital oped countries attracted 61.2% of FDI; develop- ligence. Movements tend to fall into one of two 2 Kahn J., Globalization proves Disappointing, in The New York Times, 21 March 2002 has spelt disaster for the poorer nations of the ing countries secured 35.3%, former communist attitudinal frameworks. One unequivocally 3 United Nations Development Programme, Human world. Speculators seeking short term gains states 3.7%. In 2001, the 49 least developed rejects the entire process of globalisation itself, Development Report, Oxford, Oxford University Press, contributed to the financial crisis of Mexico in nations received 2% of FDI.7 while the other accepts globalisation as a 1999 p.3 1994. Similar dynamics occurred during the More radical observers of these dynamics pos- process but criticises contemporary forms. 4 United Nations Development Programme, Human Asian financial crisis in 1997. Such instability in tulate the emergence of a trans-national state Although the AGM is multi-faceted, focusing Development Report, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2005 p.55 global capital flows has put developing nations composed of international institutions that drive on diverse problems, a general consensus exists 5 United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, The at the mercy of wealthy and powerful global a trans-nationalisation of state functions within that current rules of global commerce, favour State of Food and Agriculture, 1998 players. Critics claim economic globalisation in broader macro-economic frameworks of capi- corporate profits over welfare, health, labour, 6 See Mittal A., Land Loss, Poverty and Hunger in Does its current form has been the pre-eminent fash- talist globalisation. Hardt and Negri identify culture, environmental concerns, and issues of Globalization Help the Poor? , International Forum on ion in which wealthy nations have come to con- ‘Capitalist Globalization’itself, as the sovereign equity and poverty. Concerns are collaborated Globalization, San Francisco, August 2002, p.36 8 7 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, trol and exploit poorer ones. In all this, the power governing the contemporary world. with references to data articulating vast inequal- World Investment Report, Geneva, UNCTAD, 2002, supremacy of neo-liberal economic thought In their extensive and radical analysis of the for- ities in income distribution, the diffusion of pp.5&9 essentially remains unchallenged. mation of ‘Empire’, Hardt and Negri link the tri- labour rights and opportunities, and a potential 8 Hardt M. and Negri A., Empire, Cambridge, Havard The sovereign states of the developed world umph of global capitalism with a surpassing of global environmental catastrophe. This repre- University Press 2000 9 World Commission on the Social Dimension of have however, fervently embraced the neo-lib- state sovereignty, concluding that nation states sents in essence, an apprehension that globalisa- Globalization, A Fair Globalization: Creating eralism of post 1970s global economics and have been ‘outgrown’ by the globalisation of tion has unleashed a new, minimally regulated, Opportunities for All, reprinted in Globalizations, 2(2), future prospects for global free trade depend capitalist forces. Conceptualising a metaphor of and aggressive phase of capitalism, to the detri- 2005, p.242 ÌÁÕ 2006 12/30 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA Health HEALTH GASTRITIS AND HELICOBACTER PYLORI The method of infection is not known. The Detecting helicobacter pylori ous problems, breath testing is particularly most likely cause is coming into contact with useful for those who are not fit for this proce- NEWS stomach contents of an infected person. (By Helicobacter pylori is usually diagnosed from dure, or for those people who may not have contact with vomit, sharing foods or eating biopsies(samples) of the stomach wall taken had previous treatment for Helicobacter * WITH DR. THEO PENKLIS utensils). during the investigation known as endoscopy, pylori. in which a snake-like telescopic instrument , In this situation, the breath test can confirm What is gastritis? What are the symptoms of gastritis? the gastroscope, is passed into the stomach to the elimination of the disease with treatment or allow the doctor to look for suspected ulcers or the reappearance of the disease following Gastritis is inflammation of the mucous As I mentioned earlier, acute gastritis is cancer. treatment. membrane lining the stomach. It can be caused caused by infection of the stomach lining by However, this test can be a little uncomfort- by various germs, viruses or bacteria. It can viruses or bacteria. able for some patients, and it is now possible How should helicobacter pylori also be caused by irritating chemicals, includ- Gastritis is also part of a group of disorders to diagnose the presence of Helicobacter be treated? ing various drugs, alcohol, caffeine, drinks, that cause erosion and gastric ulcers. pylori in a simpler way, through breath-testing. cigarette smoke and burns. Gastritis can be The germ helicobacter pylori has been shown The person undergoing the test just has to There is no ideal treatment. A number of drug acute, usually due to viruses; or chronic, with to be an important cause of these disorders. swallow a capsule containing a tiny amount of combinations are used at the present time. The an insidious onset and persistence. Gastritis can be associated with the follow- a radioactive substance with some water and most effective of these are successful in 80- ing: aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs, alco- about ten minutes later blow into a balloon. 90% of people. What are the symptoms of gastritis? hol, smoking, caffeine drinks, overea- The balloon is then sealed and its contents Unfortunately, no single drug is effective ting,stress, acute illness and trauma , such as later tested in the laboratory. If Helicobacter against Helicobacter pylori. Treatment combi- Viral gastritis usually lasts a day or two and burns or severe injury. pylori was present in the stomach, certain nations include at least three drugs. The use of usually causes vomiting. Other causes of gas- changes will have happened to the contents of drug combinations reduces the risk of tritis usually cause ‘heartburn’ or indigestion. Diseases caused by helicobacter the capsule which can be identified from the Helicobacter pylori becoming resistant to The patient feels a burning discomfort felt in pylori breath sample. treatment. The drugs most commonly used the upper abdomen or lower chest. The patient The amount of radio-activity in the capsule include ulcer healing drugs and antibiotics. A may feel nauseous, have loss of appetite and Not only does Helicobacter Pylori cause gas- used for this test is extremely low, being about breath test following a course of treatment will may belch or feel acid reflux in the throat. tritis. It can also cause: the same as the amount each one of us is confirm whether the germ has been eradicated. Duodenal ulcers(ulcers in the first part of exposed to naturally in twelve hours of every- What is Helicobacter pylori? the small bowel) day life. * The information given in this article is of a gener- Stomach(gastric) ulcers Whilst most people who are suspected of al nature and readers should seek advice from their Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium ( germ) Some cancers of the stomach having an ulcer will still need an endoscopy to own medical practitioner before embarking on any that lives in the inner lining of the stomach. It confirm the diagnosis, and exclude more seri- treatment. produces a number of chemicals that damage All people with helicobacter Pylori infection the lining of the stomach. Once Helicobacter have inflammation of the lining of the stom- pylori infection is present , it may persist for ach. However, most infected people have no RCH to become leading allergy treatment many years. About 40% of persons over 40 symptoms. In some people, the inflammation years of age are infected with Helicobacter progresses to other diseases, but disappears if Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital because his youngest daughter Jaida, 5, suf- pylori. Most people are infected in childhood. the infection is successfully treated. (RCH) is set to become Australia's leading fers from a severe form of peanut allergy that allergy treatment and research centre, could kill her. Victorian Health Minister Bronwyn Pike "The decision to create the Ilhan Food says. Allergy Foundation came from the heart," Mr Greek Orthodox Archdiocese The state government's announcement of a Ilhan said. $430,000 funding package to establish an "To see Jaida suffering from allergy attacks St Therapon allergy department at the hospital was was heart breaking. Parish of upstaged by a pledge of $1 million from "Both Patricia (my wife) and I knew we had Crazy John mobile phone founder John Ilhan. to do something about the problem." But Ms Pike did not seem to mind. The foundation is a Melbourne-based char- "I commend Mr Ilhan for making a real and itable trust that offers financial support to MIDYEAR DINNER DANCE positive contribution toward improving the child focused organisations Australia wide. treatment of this potentially deadly condi- Ms Pike said the government funding and tion," Ms Pike said. Mr Ilhan's donation would ensure there was a Where Mr Ilhan said his contribution would come significant boost to diagnosis and treatment of : Thornleigh community centre, from the Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation. allergies at the RCH. Cnr Central and Phyllis Sts -Ample Parking on site He established the foundation this year AAP When : Saturday24th June Christian Dior, Gucci, Calvin Klein Time: 7 - 11.30pm Katerina + Kyriacos Mavrolefteros Dean Psarakis & Mary Krithinakis Adults $40 Students $20 OPTOMETRISTS Under 5 year olds are free

D’Angelo’s D.J . St Therapon Dance Group 874 Anzac Parade, Maroubra Junction Lucky door prize (at bus stop, on RTA block) TEL: (02) 9314-0393 EVERYONE WELCOME! [email protected] We have over 1,200 spectacle frames

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Is the EYE only Mental Health

By Mina Candalepas* • A literal understanding of language, for the window to our soul? Psychologist MAPS example they do not understand double By Kaliope Kariatlis - B. Opt (Hons) UNSW Reg NSW PS0057198 meanings; • Difficulties in social interaction, as in read- ing social cues or facial cues; An overview of cornea and/or lens does not change as we • Limited language context, they are limited focus at different distances. in what they are able to discuss; ASTIGMATISM This means therefore that vision is blurred • Over obsessiveness about a particular topic, for distance tasks such as driving and watch- such as their favourite football team or train ing TV, as well as near tasks such as reading timetables, where these topics overly con- Astigmatism is a very common condition sume parts of their lives; which causes objects to appear partly blurred and computer use. In many cases astigma- tism occurs in conjunction with myopia • Narrow fields of interest; both up close and in the distance. Despite its • Problems in fine motor skill co-ordination, prevalence few people understand what it (short-sightedness) and hyperopia (long- they have complex body movements; means and how it affects their vision. People sightedness). • Difficulty in forming friendships; with astigmatism usually find they need to • They follow rules and rituals that they may squint to make things clearer. This is espe- Symptoms of Astigmatism expect others to follow; and cially noticed when driving (particularly at Mild amounts of astigmatism may go unno- • Eccentricity. night) or when using the computer for pro- ticed. However even small amounts of astig- longed periods of time. matism have the potential to cause sore/tired Can Asperger’s Disorder be treated? eyes, squinting, poor concentration, blurry Although at this stage there is no specific Astigmatism is caused by the uneven bend- cure for Asperger’s Disorder, a deeper under- ing of light as it enters the eye through the vision (both distance and near) and headaches. In many cases astigmatism can standing of the disorder may assist those suf- cornea (surface layer of the eye) and lens (see fering from the disorder and their families diagram below). cause things to appear as if they have a shad- with implementing interventions that may be ow behind them - commonly referred to as a Understanding of benefit. ‘ghosting’ effect - that can usually be reduced Interventions can include social skills train- by squinting. Asperger’s Disorder ing and psychosocial education that allows the family and others to understand the Why do some peoples eyes have uneven Up until the last decade there has been very behaviours and feelings of the person with curvatures? little known about Asperger’s Disorder. Asperger’s. This helps to develop more real- In most cases people are born with an irreg- Many people may have heard of the term istic expectations of the person. ular shaped cornea as a result of hereditary Asperger’s, but what does it really mean? factors. This type of astigmatism is relatively Where to get help? What is Asperger’s Disorder? stable and does not progress over time. There It is important to be aware that although are also various eye diseases such as Asperger’s Disorder is developmental dis- somebody may display the majority of these In the perfect eye, the cornea is evenly Keratoconus (which affect the shape of the order, under the category of disorders within symptoms, it does not equate to a person rounded so, as light enters the eye, it is bent cornea by causing it to become progressively the Autism Spectrum. It is a disorder that is having this condition. It is imperative that a the same amount in all directions. As a result thinner) which result in astigmatism. Eye currently diagnosed in childhood, although diagnosis is made by an appropriate medical all the light entering the eye will focus on the injuries directly to the surface of the eye can many adults may not have been diagnosed, as specialist. retina and the vision will be perfectly clear. also cause astigmatism especially when scar- it was only recognised in 1994. There is no ring results on the cornea. Certain types of cure for Asperger’s Disorder, with early diag- For more information or a referral to a psy- In an eye with astigmatism the front surface chiatrist, call your local GP. Your local of the eye (cornea) is flatter in one direction eye surgery can also induce astigmatism in an nosis however, people with the disorder are eye which was previously astigmatism free. able to gain assistance on effective ways to Psychologist or the Australian Psychological and steeper in another. This results is an manage it. Society (APS) Referral Service on 1800 333 uneven bending of light as it enters the eye 497, may also be able to provide you with How is astigmatism corrected? About 10 times more boys than girls are with some of the light focussing on the retina, diagnosed with Asperger’s Disorder. more information. some focussing behind the retina or in front Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses of the retina. As a result distant and near and/or contact lenses. Unlike the past, these What are the characteristics of Asperger’s References: objects look clearer in some directions and days soft disposable contact lenses are avail- Disorder? DSM IV, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of more blurred in other directions. The net able to correct a broad range of astigmatism. Mental Disorders: Asperger’s Disorder. Fourth result is an image which is out of focus. Hard contact lenses are another traditional Unlike people suffering with other Autistic Edition, American Psychiatric Association, method used to correct astigmatism. Laser Disorders, people with Asperger's Disorder Washington DC. P75 -77. surgery is a modern method used to reshape are commonly able to function and lead suc- the cornea so that it can be evenly rounded cessful lives. They generally have highly * Mina Candalepas is a Registered Psychologist. thereby eliminating the astigmatism. Close developed language skills and in many cases She is the sole director of a Clinical Private Practice in the Campsie Professional Medical consultation and advice from your have a higher than average intelligence. They may however, have difficulty with the way Practice, Sydney NSW. Her particular speciality is optometrist and/or ophthalmologist are rec- they communicate and relate to others. The in trauma and chronic pain management and she ommended to determine the most suitable main characteristics of people with also provides psychological therapy for depres- form of correction. Asperger’s Disorder, include: sion, anxiety, work-place issues and/or injuries, relationship issues, self esteem and grief. Diagram showing the clarity with which • Difficulty in coping with change, in that they prefer to function in a very structured Therapy is conducted in either English or Greek. people with Astigmatism see. * The information given in this article is of a gen- environment. For example, children with All services are by appointment ONLY and strict- eral nature and readers should seek advice from ly confidential. Her contact details are Tel (02) Astigmatism affects vision at all distances Asperger’s Disorder may become upset with their own Optometrist before embarking on any changes to their routines; 9591 7714, Mob 0410 493 806. equally because the uneven curvature of the treatment. Drug and Alcohol: Questions and Answers What is a drug? Why do people take drugs?

A drug is a substance, solid, liquid or gas that brings about physical and/or psychological People take drugs for many different reasons. They may take them to escape their family changes in the body. They act on the brain and can change the way a person thinks, feels or or personal problems, to fit in to a group, to feel great or because they want to take risks. behaves If you have any questions in regards to drugs and alcohol that you would like answered The effect of a drug... is it the same for everybody? please send them to: The ProviCare Foundation Absolutely NOT…. there are many different factors that determine a drugs affect on each PO BOX 186 individual. Factors include how much is used, how often the drug is used and how it is taken. Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 Every person will have a different reaction to a particular drug. This is due to our own indi- vidual genetic and psychological make-up. Or email them to: [email protected] ÌÁÕ 2006 14/32 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

CLINICAL INSIGHTS INTO HEALTH AND NATURAL SOLUTIONS

indicative of a weak immune system. fruits and vegetables reduce the risk for cancer Plain natural yoghurt with nuts and some The health of the immune system is greatly and heart disease. fruits impacted by healthy lifestyle, a healthy diet Reduce the intake of fat – by eating fewer Fresh fruits - e.g. grapefruit that is rich in whole natural foods, such as animal products and more plant foods. Nuts Vegetable juices – from carrots, celery, BY CHRISTINA SCALONE* fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, seeds, and and seeds contain high levels of good fat called spinach, beetroot, ginger, etc (they should be BHSc, Dip. Bot. Med, Dip. nuts; low in fats and refined sugar; adequate essential fatty acids and providing the body diluted 50/50 with water Hom, Dip. Nut amount of proteins – mainly derived from the with energy and also they protect against many Filtered water - at least 2 litres per day, nuts, legumes, seeds, fish, soy products and diseases. green and herbal tea eggs; 5 - 6 glasses of pure water. Eliminate the intake of refined sugar (as it Along with above measures, a positive men- decreases your white blood cells, thereby Nutritional Supplements: The following tal attitude, a regular exercise, prayer/medita- affecting the immune function). supplements can be used- tion, 7 –8 hours of sleep, daily high potency Reduce exposure to pesticides and herbi- Vitamin C multivitamin and mineral supplement, plant cides, food colouring, preservatives. Vitamin A based medicine, also help to build up the Regular exercise, but not strenuous, helps Zinc immune system. to boost the immune system. Strenuous exer- Multivitamin and mineral supplement cise deprives your immune system and these STRESS: people must be sure to seek proper advice on Herbal medicine: what supplements to take in order to replenish Echinacea Stress increases the levels of adrenal gland low levels of nutrients. Andrographis hormones including adrenaline and corticos- 2 glasses of red wine – studies have shown Astragalus teroids. to help the immune system. (But remember – Licorice The effects of these hormones lead to a sig- excessive alcohol deprives your immune sys- Ginger PREPARING nificant suppression of immune function, leav- tem. FOR WINTER ing individual susceptible to infections, cancer, It is most important to take care of your body and other illnesses. SOME MEAL SUGGESTIONS: and immune system in order to keep those COLDS AND FLUS The level of immune suppression is usually winter colds and flus away. There are many proportional to the level of stress. The greater BREAKFAST SUGGESTIONS- things that put stress on your immune system Cold and flus can be caused by a wide vari- the stress, the greater the negative impact on Cereals, such as porridge, muesli with top- and this leads to its breakdown or reduce its ety of viruses that are capable of infecting the the immune system. ping of berries, or grated apple or stewed fruit, ability to function properly. It is during this upper respiratory tract (the nasal passages, Our mood and attitude have a tremendous pinch of cinnamon, linseed, sunflower and time that we are more prone to the winter colds sinuses and throat). We are constantly exposed bearing on the function of our immune system. almonds (LSA). You can add some yoghurt or and flus. It is therefore important to build your to many of these viruses, yet the majority of us When we are happy and optimistic, our goat’s milk. immune system and keep it healthy so that it only experience the discomfort of “cold” once immune system functions much better. Smoothie – made of soy milk, yoghurt, may ‘fight’ the many viruses it comes in con- or twice a year. This situation implies that a Conversely, when we are depressed, our fresh fruit, raw nuts, flux seed oil (cold tact with, reducing the number of times you are decrease in resistance of immune function is immune system tends to be depressed. A posi- pressed) and LSA affected by colds and flus. the major factor in “catching” a cold. tive mental attitude can be useful in improving Whole bread toast with avocado or honey If you find that you are suffering from colds Typically, the individual with a cold will the immune system. Studies have demonstrat- and tahini with poached or boiled egg and flus too often, it is wise to visit your health experience general malaise, fever, headache ed that bereavement, depression and stress sig- Whole bread toast with ricotta cheese practitioner who will do an evaluation and then and upper respiratory tract congestion. nificantly diminish immune system. prescribe the appropriate things to support Initially, there is usually a watery nasal dis- BREAST FEEDING – The breast-fed infants LUNCH & DINNER SUGGESTIONS: your system. charge and sneezing, followed by thicker tend to have fewer infections and allergies. Large mixed salad or steamed vegetables secretions containing mucus. The throat may ALCOHOL – drinking excessive alcohol can with some protein such as egg, legumes, nuts be red, sore and quite dry. decrease activity of white blood cells, which and seeds, fish, chicken, turkey, lean meat or Usually, a cold can be distinguished from are part of immune system. This makes these feta cheese. * Christina Scalone is a very experienced and successful other conditions with some similar symptoms individuals more prone to repeated infections. Sandwich with wholegrain bread with one naturopath with over 20 years experience. She holds a (influenza and allergies for example). Degree in Health Science, a Diploma in Botanical Medi- SMOKING – similar to alcohol, smoking also of the protein portion as mentioned above. cine, Diploma in Homoeopathy and a Diploma in Nutri- Influenza is much more severe in symptoms affects the functioning of white blood cells, as Soup - bean or lentil or chickpea with veg- tion. She has maintained a full time practice, has held a and usually occurs in epidemics. well as it also causes depletion of lots of nutri- etables with a slice of wholegrain bread. position as a senior practioner/ naturopathic consultant, a Allergies may be an underlying factor in ents and causes toxic damage. clinic manager and trainer for Blackmores and is a clinic decreasing resistance and allowing a virus to student supervisor as well as a lecturer at the Australian OBESITY – people who are overweight suffer SNACKS SUGGESTIONS: College of Natural Therapies. She also maintains her own infect the upper airways. But allergies can be from more infections than do people of normal Raw, unsalted nuts, seeds, sun dried fruits private practice with successful results. differentiated from the common cold by the weight. The white blood cells of overweight fact that with allergies no fever occurs, there is people are less able to destroy bacteria (as no evidence of infection and there is usually a shown in some experimental studies). history of seasonal allergic episodes. From the time the virus enters the respirato- HEALTHY DIET: ry system, it takes about 8- 12 hours for it to start reproducing. Then it takes about 10 –12 The human body is truly one of the uni- more hours for symptoms to develop. verse’s major wonders. It deserves to be fed Symptoms peak in about 36- 72 hours and with a high quality diet food, but most of us are most colds take about one week to resolve. not giving their bodies the nutrition it needs or Children have high incidence of common deserves. When a machine does not receive the colds, because their immune system is still proper fuel or maintenance, how long can it be developing and they are also exposed to a large expected to run in an efficient manner? If your number of viruses through playing with many body is not fed the full range of nutrients it other children at day care centres or schools. needs, how can it be expected to stay in a state of good health?! The health promoting diet (as THERAPEUTIC CONSIDERATIONS: shown below) goes a long way in preventing Measures to take during the attack: disease and maintaining or achieving good Bed rest health. Drink large amount of fluids (soups, Good health often comes down to the sum of herbal teas, diluted vegetable juice) the habitual choices we make on a day-to-day Hot, spicy food – with ginger and chillies basis. Reduce simple sugar consumption Make a commitment to follow a good diet Vitamin C helps to shorten the duration of and you will be building a strong foundation for optimal health. cold and also reduces the severity (Please con- sult your health practitioner for dosage.) Eat more plant foods - Three servings of fruit and three to five servings of vegetables Maintaining a healthy immune system is the per day to reduce the risk of developing heart primary way to protect yourself against getting disease, cancer and other chronic diseases. an excessive number of colds. If you catch Numerous population studies have repeatedly more than one or two colds per year, it may be demonstrated that high intake of carotene-rich ÌÁÕ 2006 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 15/33

Beaconsfield mine may remain closed for months Beaconsfield woke from the excitement of a "We made it clear that quite a few of our Mr Gill said it was heartening that mine of Tasmania's chief inspector of mines. televised gala concert held recently to the members, miners, don't want to go down there workers at a union meeting yesterday voted A coronial inquest is underway into Mr news that its gold mine, the town's main again under current conditions," Mr Shorten unanimously in support of reopening the mine, Knight's death and the Tasmanian government employer, could remain closed for months. said. although they want assurances it will be safe. has agreed to hold an independent inquiry, He also detailed the work that is currently "Obviously there will be people that will have with negotiations continuing over its powers The Tasmanian community was the centre of underway in the mine. had enough of working here, and we under- and terms of reference. national attention last night when rescued min- "A care and maintenance crew will be work- stand that, but the objective of reopening the Shire of West Tamar mayor Barry Easther, ers Todd Russell and Brant Webb appeared at ing in the protected areas of the mine; there mine, it is heartening that the workers want who chairs the taskforce, said the most critical a town benefit concert screened live in the will be no operative mining going on, no that," Mr Gill said. issue was finding work for those employed at Nine Network's Footy Shows. search for gold." "Also I would like to hope that the communi- the mine to fill the void until it could reopen. The Beaconsfield mine has closed pending The union will meet with management again ty wants that." inquiries into the April 25 rock fall which to discuss worker entitlements. The mine cannot open without the approval AAP killed miner Larry Knight and trapped Mr Russell and Mr Webb underground for 14 days. Mine operators have promised to pay the 120 miners for another month, but mine manager Matthew Gill today said gold mining would remain on hold for months to come. "It's not weeks ... months (but) not years," Mr Gill said today when asked for a timeline for a possible reopening. "There is a myriad of issues that we just need the time to list, develop the plans for and then work forward on that." Mr Gill was speaking after the first meeting Íçóôåýåôå; Áí íáé, ôþñá ìðïñåßôå íá áðïëáýóåôå ôá íçóôßóéìá of an intergovernmental taskforce on the town's recovery, which also includes mine and ôõñéÜ ÊÏËÉÏÓ Nçóôßóéìï (Fast) ëåõêü ôõñß & Íçóôßóéìï (Fast) union representatives. êßôñéíï ôõñß. Ôá ìüíá íçóôßóéìá ÅëëçíéêÜ ôõñéÜ óôçí Áõóôñáëßá. Australian Workers Union national secretary ÐñïóÝ÷åôå ôéò áðïìéìÞóåéò. Bill Shorten also met with mine management today. For the bibliophiles… Byzantium rediscovered By J.B.Bullen (Phaidon, 2003)

Although large-format, and beautifully illustrated, this is far more than a coffee- table book. It covers the influence of Byzantine art and architecture on buildings in Germany, Austria, France, Britain and North America from the late 19th century onwards. Photographs, etchings, and illus- trations lavishly depict the original sources of inspiration – the mosaics and buildings of the Byzantines – as well as those inspired by them, including the throne room of Neuschwanstein. Included is a brief history of the restoration work carried out on Hagia Sophia in 1847. A beautiful book to look at, and interesting to read. Kashmiri shawl: From jamavar to paisley By Sherry Rehman and Naheed Jafri (Antique Collectors’ Club, 2006)

Another large-format book, and once again beautifully illustrated, this should prove fascinating to anyone interested in visual symbols and designs. Trade, as well as con- quest, has always ensured that designs and ideas travel from one culture to another. Greeks and others familiar with what Turks call cevres, will recognise many of the designs in this book featured on the shawls. The shawls are from the Indian subconti- nent, Bangladesh, through Kashmir, Afghanistan and Iran, and show how they became popular in Europe, with adapta- tions being taken back to the source coun- tries and influencing the original designs. It is a wonderful example of the potential for cultures that intersect to enrich each other, and was written from a South Asian per- spective. A treasure. A.C. ÌÁÕ 2006 16/34 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

Genocide of the Pontian Greeks Pontus means "sea" in Greek and is and children being marched from the coasts located in the south-eastern littoral of the to Sebasteia. The need is great." Black Sea. Its connection with Hellenism 19 December 1916 Austrian Ambassador to stretches back to pre-historic times to the Turkey Pallavicini to Vienna lists the vil- legends of Jason and the Argonauts quest lages in the region of Amisos that were for the Golden Fleece and to Heracles being burnt to the ground and their inhabi- obtaining the Amazon Queen's girdle. tants raped, murdered or dispersed. The coastal region was colonised by the 20 January 1917 Austrian Ambassador Ionians, especially the city of Miletus Pallavicini: "the situation for the displaced which founded Sinope (785 BC), is desperate. Death awaits them all. I spoke Trapezunta (756 BC) and the numerous to the Grand Vizier and told him that it other cities along the coast from would be sad if the persecution of the Greek Heracleia to Discurias in the Caucasus. element took the same scope and dimension as the Armenia persecution. The Grand The Hinterland was gradually Hellenised Vizier promised that he would influence and this was completed after Alexander's Talaat Bey and Emver Pasha." conquests. Its contribution to Hellenism in 31 January 1917 Austrian Chancellor those 2800 years has been enormous: Hollweg's report: "... the indications are that Diogenes hailed from Sinope and Strabo the Turks plan to eliminate the Greek ele- from Amaseia, it was here that Xenophon ment as enemies of the state, as they did found a safe haven, that the great Comneni earlier with the Armenians. The strategy dynasty reigned, the home of Cardinal implemented by the Turks is of displacing Bessarion and the Hypsilandis family; it people to the interior without taking meas- was also the last Greek territory to fall to the ures for their survival by exposing them to Turks (in 1461). Many famous churches, death, hunger and illness. The abandoned monasteries and schools are a testament to homes are then looted and burnt or the resilience of Hellenism. The Pontians destroyed. Whatever was done to the are a distinct Greek people with their own Armenians is being repeated with the dialect, dances, songs and theatre. Greeks. For the Pontian Greeks all ended in Thus, by government decree 1,500,000 tragedy in the years 1914-22. Of the Armenians and 300,000 Pontian Greeks 700,000 Greeks living in Pontus in 1914, were annihilated through exile, starvation, 300,000 were killed as a result of Turkish Armed Pontians in front of the cold, illness, slaughter, murder, gallows, government policy and the remainder flag for the freedom of Pontus axe, and fire. Those who survived fled became refugees. Three millenia of the never to return. The Pontians now lie scat- Greek presence was wiped out by a deliber- tered all over the world as a result of the ate policy of creating a Turkey for the genocide and their unique history, language Turks. The Pontian people were denied the (the dialect is a valuable link between quoting Turkish Prime Minister Sefker Amisos Kwiatkowski to Austria Foreign ancient and modern Greek), and culture are right to exist, the right of respect for their Pasha: "The Turks have decided upon a war Minister Baron Burian: "on 26 November national and cultural identity, and the right endangered and face extinction. of extermination against their Christian sub- Rafet Bey told me: "we must finish off the A double crime was committed - genocide to remain on land they had lived on for jects." Greeks as we did with the Armenians . . . on countless generations. and the uprooting of a people from their 26 July 1909 Sefker Pasha visited Patriarch 28 November. Rafet Bey told me: "today I ancestral homelands of three millenia. The The turning point in the treatment of Ioakeim III and tells him: "we will cut off sent squads to the interior to kill every Greeks in Turkey was the alliance between Christian nations were not only witnesses to your heads, we will make you disappear. It Greek on sight." I fear for the elimination of this horrible and monstrous crime, which Germany and the Sultan that commenced is either you or us who will survive." the entire Greek population and a repeat of after the Treaty of Berlin 1878. Germany remains unpunished, but for reasons of 14 May 1914 Official document from what occurred last year" (meaning the political expediency and self interest have, regarded Anglo French protection of Talaat Bey Minister of the Interior to Armenian genocide). Christians as an obstacle to its interests and by their silence, pardoned the criminal. The Prefect of Smyrna: The Greeks, who are 13 December 1916 German Ambassador Ottoman and Kemalist Turks were responsi- convinced the Turkish authorities that the Ottoman subjects, and form the majority of Kuhlman to Chancellor Hollweg in Berlin: Greeks were working for the collapse of the ble for the genocide of the Pontian people, inhabitants in your district, take advantage "Consuls Bergfeld in Samsun and Schede in the most heinous of all crimes according to Ottoman Empire. Germany opened the of the circumstances in order to provoke a Kerasun report of displacement of local Berlin Academy to Turkish military officers international law. The international commu- revolutionary current, favourable to the population and murders. Prisoners are not nity must recognise this crime. and General Gotz was appointed to restruc- intervention of the Great Powers. kept. Villages reduced to ashes. Greek re- ture the Ottoman armed forces. The suc- Consequently, it is urgently necessary that fugee families consisting mostly of women cessful national movements in the Balkans the Greeks occupying the coast-line of Asia posed a threat that the same would occur in Minor be compelled to evacuate their vil- Asia Minor. After the Balkan Wars the lages and install themselves in the vilayets Young Turks decided that Asia Minor of Erzerum and Chaldea. If they should would be a homeland for Turks alone and refuse to be transported to the appointed that the Greeks and Armenians had to be places, kindly give instructions to our eliminated. The outbreak of World War I Moslem brothers, so that they shall induce made this possible and Germany willingly the Greeks, through excesses of all sorts, to sacrificed the Christian minorities to leave their native places of their own achieve its aim in the Middle East. accord. Do not forget to obtain, in such However, it is the German and Austrian cases, from the emigrants certificates stat- diplomats reports that confirm that what ing that they leave their homes on their own took place was a systematic and deliberate initiative, so that we shall not have political extermination of the Christian population. complications ensuing from their displace- Genocide. Not security or defence meas- ment. ures, not relocations of population (why 31 July 1915 German priest J. Lepsius: forcibly relocate populations?) not war, not "The anti-Greek and anti-Armenian perse- retaliation in response to the activities of cutions are two phases of one programme - Pontian guerillas or Russian invasion but the extermination of the Christian element GENOCIDE. from Turkey. Terrorism, labour battalions, exiles, forced 16 July 1916 German Consul Kuchhoff marches, rapes, hangings, fires, murders, from Amisos to Berlin: "The entire Greek planned, directed and executed by the population of Sinope and the coastal region Turkish authorities. This can be corroborat- of the county of Kastanome has been exiled. ed by the German and Austrian archives Exile and extermination in Turkish are the now made public: 24 July 1909 German Ambassador in same, for whoever is not murdered, will die Athens Wangenheim to Chancellor Bulow from hunger or illness." 30 November 1916 Austrian consul at ÌÁÕ 2006 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 17/35 Food & Wine Do you know what you’re eating? The Vema’s regular food and wine writer, of consumers would appreciate the extra infor- Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter working group will develop a voluntary Imogen Coward, is taking a short break mation about the origin of the ingredients, the McGauran, has announced that the Australian ‘Australian Grown’ labelling scheme. from writing while visiting Armidale, NSW, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Government has agreed to establish a high- For more information about Australia’s to present a lecture and performance at the Health and Ageing, Christopher Pyne, said. level working group to develop recommenda- labelling laws, or for more detailed informa- University of New England, as a part of her “The Australian Government, with the agree- tions in relation to accurate labelling of the tion on our food standards visit www.foodstan- ‘other life’ as a musician. This month, the ment of the Australia and New Zealand Food food we purchase. Among other things, the dards.gov.au Vema brings you an article on food labelling Regulation Ministerial Council, directed Food in Australia re-printed with the permission Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to of Food Standards Australia New Zealand undertake a comprehensive impact analysis on Australians continue to love Vegemite the costs and benefits of the proposed exten- Australian consumers still rate Vegemite as ment of brands consumers could interact with, Browse the food shelves of any supermarket sion of labelling requirements,” Mr Pyne said. their favourite brand name, but are showing a including TV stations, hardware stores, and and you can see the benefits of Australia’s “The report, which includes an independent growing fondness for Google and iPod. internet services. labelling laws. Whether it’s a packet of peanuts study by the Centre for International They're also moving away from traditional Making the top 20 most treasured brands for or perhaps a bag of jelly babies we, the con- Economics, concluded that this benefit to con- 'prestige' brands such as Mercedes Benz and the first time were Google, Bunnings sumers, are informed not only about where the sumers would be outweighed by the costs to Vogue, according to the 2006 Brand Asset Warehouse, Magnum, Bonds, Seven Network, food was produced or packed, but also whether industry, which would harm the competitive- Valuator (BAV) study. Myer, M&Ms and Flake. or not the ingredients originated in Australia or ness of affected Australian-made goods in Conducted by advertising agency George Mr Morrison said new technology products overseas. In theory, it’s great to know exactly domestic and global markets,” he said. Patterson Y&R (GPY&R), the study surveyed such as iPod, Hotmail and Sony PlayStation what you’re eating. However as a new study FSANZ has already introduced a new stan- 2,000 Australians about their admiration for were receiving much more recognition than into a recent proposal to make our food labels dard for unpackaged fruit and vegetables, meat 1,245 brands, covering 120 categories. three years ago. more detailed revealed that more of a good and fish products, so consumers can clearly Vegemite outperformed all other brands - it's "They're able to participate with them more thing isn’t necessarily better... see the origins of products in the supermarkets. been Australia's favourite brand name since the and spend more time with them and also cus- “Country-of-origin labelling is important to first study was conducted in 1993. tomise and personalise those brands a bit COUNTRY OF ORIGIN enable Australians to support their domestic It was followed by the ABC, Tim Tam, more," Mr Morrison said. STUDY SHOWS HIGH COSTS agricultural and manufacturing industries,” Mr Google, Cadbury and Cola. The biggest losers were prestige brands, he FOR INDUSTRY Pyne said. However, “supporting industry GPY&R chief strategy officer Mike Morrison said. requires us to take a sensible approach to this said there was a marked rise in acknowledg- AAP A new study released shows it would cost issue and “Adding unreasonable cost burdens Australians $120 million a year to extend to local companies would be counterproduc- country-of-origin labelling to canned or pack- tive to our aim, which is to help local compa- aged food that includes two or less principal nies.” whole fruit or vegetable products. Rather than force the industry to adopt a The report also shows that only 10 per cent ‘high-cost’ labelling scheme, the Minister for Seifried Sauvignon PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL OR DRUGS? Blanc (Nelson) 2005

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The ProviCare Foundation is a mission of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia ÌÁÕ 2006 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 18/36 Travel Rhodes off the beaten track The Island of the Knights boasts a treasury of castles and natural beauties for the inquisitive traveller who wishes to venture beyond the old town DIONE DODIS perpetually on the alert. Grand Master Pierre d’Aubusson strengthened the city walls and Dawn broke just as our ship was entering the the three chief castles - Lindos, Monolithos commercial harbour of the town of Rhodes. and Pharaclos - as well as the castles of Kos We stood at the prow to get a better view of the and Halicarnassos. Indeed, in 1480, the first magnificent scenery unfolding in front of our great siege took place. Sultan Muhammad II eyes. The first sun rays hit the ramparts, the fitted out a large fleet and, in order to detach castles and turrets of the old city, colouring the Rhodean Greeks from their allegiance to them with a rosy hue. Behind us, in the dis- the knights, he entrusted the chief command of tance, the coast of Turkey was shrouded in the invading forces to Emmanuel Paleologos, clouds. As we inched our way into the harbour son of the last despot of Morea and nephew of we passed the rounded sandstone Fort of St the last emperor of Constantinople. In spite of Nicholas, built at the far end of the Windmill the many privileges he showered on the civil- Mole, which separates the main harbour from ians, the Rhodeans fought bravely on the side the smaller one, the Mandraki. No colossus of the knights. As soon as the Ottoman fleet was standing on the site of Fort St Nicholas left the harbour of Marmarice, on mainland watching the harbour with its legs astride the Turkey, the country folk took shelter in the city mouth so that ships would pass underneath. and castles, bringing their household goods Actually, the precise site where the Colossus with them. Naturally, they also transported the stood has never been determined with accura- miraculous icon of the Virgin from Philerimos cy. We only know that the Rhodeans commis- to St Mark’s church in town. During the three sioned the sculptor Chares of Lindos to exe- months of the siege, fierce battles took place at cute an immense bronze statue of the sun god A view from the castle of Ialysos, one of the three ancient cities of Rhodes and the first place various points around the fortified city of Helios from the spoils left by Demetrius fortified by the Knights of St John Rhodes, Fort St Nicholas being the point most Poliorcetes when he raised the siege of the city. seriously attacked. Having suffered great loss- The finished statue stood 31m high and was Monte Smith, a low hill on the outskirts of the Monopetra and accessible only by a single, es, the Turks broke the siege in August, 1480. considered one of the Seven Wonders of the city. On top of the ridge are the ruins of the narrow path, Monolithos is the most spectacu- Some 40 years later, in 1522, the second great World. The great earthquake of 227BC ruined ancient acropolis, at a lower level there is a lar castle in Rhodes. The rough climb to the top siege took place. By now Egypt had been con- the town and the statue alike. For nine cen- temple of Phythian Apollo and further down where the Byzantine church of Agios quered by the Ottomans and the expulsion of turies the figure of the sun god was lying shat- the gentle slope, among the olive groves, a sta- Pantaleonos still stands, is well worth the the knights from Rhodes was imperative tered where it fell until the Persian raider dium and a small theatre. It is an attractive spot effort. The views of the mountainous interior because of the position of the island on the line Moabiah had the metal transported in camel and makes for a pleasant walk for the towns- of the island, on the one side, and the deep blue of communications between Constantinople loads to Syria. people. We then took the wide road that leads Aegean on the other, are magnificent. and Alexandria. This time it was Suleiman the At the centre of the quay, where the ship to Philerimos, stopping briefly at Trianda to We crossed the island from the west to the Magnificent who prepared the attack and docked, the massive Marine Gate stands admire the outstanding early 16th-century fres- eastern flat coastal belt. Nearing Lindos, the Grand Master Villiers l’Isle Adam who under- between two round towers with overhanging coes in the church of Agios Nicolaos and Agia landscape changed abruptly to a huge outcrop took the defence. The Turkish fleet numbered battlements. It is one of several gates that lead Aikaterini. Soon, the flat-topped mountain of of rock, 116 metres above sea level, at the top 300 ships and the invading army 200,000 men. into the mediaeval city through the thick, Philerimos came into view. It was the site, in of which the ancient acropolis of Lindos was As in the first siege, the fleet crossed the straits impenetrable walls. As early as the sixth centu- antiquity, of the city-state of Ialysos, one of the built in the 10th century BC. The geographical from Marmarice and started heavy bombard- ry AD the Byzantines had fortified the city three Rhodean cities mentioned by Homer - position of the fort, between two goods har- ment of the city. But this time around they cap- with heavy ramparts and turrets to protect it Ialysos, Kameiros and Lindos. No traces of the bours, with access to eastern trade routes, led tured the fort of Philerimos to stop reinforce- from invasions of Saracens, Venetians and ancient acropolis remain, apart from some to Lindos becoming the most important of the ments coming to the aid of the knights from Genoese, all of them after the lucrative trade of scattered column drums. Later, a Byzantine three ancient city-states of Rhodes. A small the west. One after another the city walls were the island. Little is visible today of the fortress had been constructed on the mount and temple of Lindian Athena stands at the edge of breached at strategic points, with immediate Byzantine walls as the Knights of St John, a Christian basilica was built over the ancient the cliff at the southern point of the acropolis. assaults following. The sultan had posted him- when they took over the island in 1309, built temple of Athena Ialysia. The sanctuary of this In the Byzantine period, the acropolis was self on a watch tower made of ships’ masts over them much taller and wider fortifications. church was subsequently adapted as the turned into a fortress which the Knights of St and, like Xerxes at the naval battle of Salamis, Four kilometres in length, these walls encircle entrance to a mediaeval successor, Our Lady John later made into the headquarters of a he was witnessing the battle from a vantage the old city and are surrounded by a moat, of Philerimos, built to house the miraculous Castellany. Peering down from the steep, point. The knights sustained this great forming an outer circle. There is a walkway on icon of the Virgin. The knights had a strong northeastern edge of the cliff, we could see the onslaught with remarkable bravery for six top of the scarped wall at the southern side of castle built there to protect the famous church two blue circles of the harbours - the smaller months. They capitulated only when their sup- the old town, from the Gate of the Cannons and a monastery next to it. Fierce battles took one where popular tradition says that St Paul plies were completely exhausted. The until the Gate of Koskinou. It gives you an place for the conquest of this strategically was shipwrecked and the larger one where Ottomans had the great advantage that they overview of the mediaeval town on the one placed castle between the Byzantines and the Cleobulos, the ancient tyrant, lies buried. The could easily bring in reinforcements and sup- side and the modern city on the other. We knights and, later, the Turks. In spite of its tur- huddled village that lies at the foot of the plies. On 20 December 1522 the capitulation entered the walled city from the Gate bulent history, the place has a serene and tran- acropolis is of a scrupulous Aegean order. The was signed. Suleiman, in homage to their hero- d’Amboise where the moat is at its widest. quil atmosphere. In the old days, in moments narrow streets, paved with clean sea-pebbles, ism, offered the knights the best possible terms Nowadays it is landscaped into a beautiful of trouble, the icon of the Virgin, the patron are criss-crossed with little inter-communicat- - that after the evacuation of the city of Rhodes park with a mixture of trees - cypresses, palms saint of the island, was carried in a solemn pro- ing alleys. Their width is enough to accommo- and of the castles they could sail to Crete in and olive trees - and a great variety of flowers. cession to Rhodes and then through all the date two donkeys abreast but no car can enter. Turkish ships, free of charge, taking with them To the north-west is the so-called Collachium, main streets of the town. Naturally, they did The houses are whitewashed and so are the lit- their arms and all their possessions. Further- or Castle, which in mediaeval times was divid- this during the last great siege of the Turks but tle chapels waiting for you around every cor- more, any civilians wishing to leave Rhodes ed from the remainder of the old town by an to no avail. What we see now in the church of ner. Near the main village square, where the could follow the knights with all their belong- inner wall, like a city within a city. The our Lady of Philerimos is a copy of the famous donkey stand is, stands the church of the ings. Nearly all the country folk remained but Collachium was the exclusive preserve of the icon. It is a striking image of the Virgin, some- Panagia. Bearing the dates 1484-90, as well as about half the citizens sailed away with the Knights of St John who were not permitted to thing I shall never forget. But it has long since the arms of d’Aubusson, it has the form of a knights. go into the rest of the town unless they were on vanished. The knights, when they abandoned Latin cross and is decorated with the most Once again the Knights of St John were horseback, or walking two and two. Grey the island, took the venerated icon with them amazing frescoes. homeless and roaming around Europe in stone buildings, castles, palaces and churches to Malta. Later, she travelled to Russia with the On the way back to the town of Rhodes the search of a permanent home until, finally, in adorn the abode of the knights, all of heavy last grand master and her traces were lost. road passes two more great castles of the east- 1530, they established themselves in Malta, Gothic architecture, quite alien to the gentle We continued on the main road towards ern coast. One is the spectacular castle of having been given this land as a fiefdom by island landscape. Monolithos. We passed the ruins of the ancient Archangelos, built in 1467 by Grand Master Charles V. As for the Rhodeans, they had to After a tour around the magnificent city of Kameiros and the dark, craggy slopes of Orsini, the other the immense castle of endure long years of foreign occupation, four Collachium we decided to get out of the city to Atabyron, the chief mountain of the island, and Pharaclos, one of the strongest built by the centuries under the Ottoman Turks and 30 visit the three main castles of the knights and, took the steep, winding road that leads to the knights and thus the last to fall to the Turks. years under the Italians, until they could at the same time, to savour the delightful fortress, one of the three main castles of the Since the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the become part of the Hellenic world again. Rhodean countryside. On our way westwards knights - Monolithos, Pharaclos and Lindos. Knights of Rhodes knew their turn would soon we stopped to visit Mount Agios Stefanos, or Situated on the top of a precipitous rock called come. Thrown on the defensive, they lived ATHENS NEWS MAY 2006 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 19/37

The ancients also enjoyed Santorini wine Cycladic island’s famous vineyards go back at least to 1700 BC, says Professor Christos Doumas, head of excavations at Akrotiri By Meropi Papadopoulou - Kathimerini Let us talk about Santorini and the famous Each line is different with regard to what it city of Akrotiri. What oenological findings encircles - an empty surface, a cross, a solid For centuries, the Aegean island of are there? disc or concentric circles. Nine different Santorini has been producing renowned The excavation at Akrotiri on Thera (mod- designs have been recognized, each of them wines. Christos Doumas, distinguished pro- ern-day Santorini) has given us more informa- apparently functioning as an indication of the fessor of archaeology and head of the exca- tion about viticulture in the Cyclades in the type of product stored within. vations at the Akrotiri archaeological site, Bronze Age. Thanks to modern methods and One wonders if they refer to just the type of talked to Kathimerini about the island’s viti- techniques now used in archaeology, and product, the variety or quality. It is difficult to culture and wine production, and the role drawing information even from the humblest name nine different liquid products that are these activities played in antiquity. finds, we have concluded that Akrotiri had one stored in jars. So we suppose that it was just of the richest collections of flora and fauna in one product with nine different varieties or ‘Thanks to modern methods, we have found at We began our interview in Poliochni on the the Aegean at that time. qualities. The only one that comes to mind is Akrotiri one of the richest collections of flora and northeastern Aegean island of Lemnos, a To understand just how important findings of wine; storing wine according to category was fauna in the Aegean at the time,’ said Professor proto-urban center dating from the 3rd milleni- this nature are, it is enough to say that studying already known from Homeric times. Homer Christos Doumas, director of excavations of the um BC, where a completely new kind of am- them has given us information about the gen- used 10 different adjectives to classify wine, ancient settlement of Akrotiri. phora made its appearance. eral climate and environmental conditions at six describing the feelings that each taste elicit- It had a tap just above its narrow base, indi- that time, about the species of plants cultivat- ed and four indicating color and age. These I am told that even today lime is used in tradi- cating that the contents were too sensitive to be ed, the livestock animals bred, cultivation terms certainly determined the variety or qual- tional societies to purify must. exposed every time a quantity of it needed to methods, as well as the people’s dietary habits ity that naturally called for storage in separate Also, in a Linear B inscription engraved on be drawn. The invention of the tap was the in prehistory. containers, marked accordingly. the lip of a jar is the logogram for wine as ideal solution and allowed sediment to be Among the samples analyzed are traces of found on ancient monuments in Crete, con- deposited on the narrow base of the amphora. vine-wood coal and grape stems that appear That is very interesting, but we are still only firming the use of the particular jar for storing The liquid that comes to mind, of course, is with great frequency. That means that viticul- looking at indications that there was wine wine. wine, confirmed by the discovery of grape ture was one of the farming activities on Thera, production. seeds at a coastal settlement at Aghios Cos- at least during the 17th century BC. Grapes are That is so. Everything we have mentioned so So we are sure about both viticulture and mas, Attica and at Skarkos on the island of Ios. depicted on jars dating from that time, both far does not constitute proof that wine was pro- wine production. Do we know how and A more immediate indication that viticulture painted and embossed, indicating that grapes duced. That came from the bowels of the earth where it was consumed? was practiced in the Cyclades in the Early were not simply a product to be traded but a of Santorini, in the form of a pair of vessels There are references to the distribution of Bronze Age is the imprint of a vine leaf on the popular foodstuff. found in all wine presses in Minoan Crete. The wine. A category of standardized vessels that base of a category of drinking glasses. Of course, these findings confirm that grapes discovery of a wine press at Akrotiri not only have their mouth at the side have been recog- The leaf could indicate that these were wine were cultivated, not necessarily that wine was confirmed the production of wine on the site, nized as the typical containers for transporting glasses. produced, although for this we have other but gave what is to date the only information wine and oil. A Cycladic marble figurine, displayed in the more tangible indications and references, such about the processing of must. So far Akrotiri has provided at least 50 per- Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art in as jars with a tap just above a narrow base. A cylindrical container made of the wood of cent of all these early containers known Athens, holds one of these glasses raised in his the chaste tree, of a size that would lead one to throughout the Aegean, including Crete. If one hand. Seated on a stool, the figure appears to Are they like the 3rd millennium BC jars assume it could have been used in the wine considers the very small area explored at be toasting his companions’ health. found in Poliochni, Lemnos? press, was found filled with lime and closed Akrotiri so far, one realizes the importance of “Obviously the scene is ceremonial and its Not exactly. The jars found in Akrotiri differ with a lid, also made of woven chaste tree that percentage. It is quite clear that trade in representation would make no sense unless the from their predecessors in the 3rd millenium branches. wine and oil played a large part in the econo- drink being consumed had some special signif- BC in that right above the tap there are decora- I personally had not known that lime was my of Thera. icance,” explained Doumas. tions consisting exclusively of a line of circles. used in antiquity in wine production. However AEK Athens soccer fan charged with attempted murder

An AEK Athens soccer fan was charged with attempted murder for allegedly firing a flare which hit a coastguard officer during a rampage from supporters SPORTS onboard a ship. The flare was fired from a ferry carrying more than 680 AEK supporters and caused minor leg injuries to a coastguard officer on shore. Three other AEK supporters were charged with criminal damage to the ferry, The Greek Australian VEMA with one also charged with illegal possession of a crowbar. Media reports esti- mated 150,000 euro ($A248,800) damage. Arnold bites back at Ronaldo Australia assistant coach Graham Arnold took a potshot at Brazilian star Ronaldo and Everton manager David Moyes, demonstrating off the field the sort of aggression he expects his players to show on it. Arnold took exception to Ronaldo’s recent comment that he had never heard of Socceroos stars such as Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka, despite the fact that he had played against them at the 1997 Confederations Cup in Japan. Arnold suggested Ronaldo should talk to some Brazilian players who were on the losing side against Australia at a later Confederations Cup – the 1-0 loss in the 2001 third-place play-off in South Korea that led to the sacking of coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo. “If Ronaldo asked a few of his friends, I’d say they would know who those players (Kewell and Viduka) are,” Arnold said. “Ronaldo is playing a bluffing game.” The assistant coach also gave a piece of his mind to Everton manager Moyes, who upset the Socceroos by saying he would not leave Australian “witch doctors” to decide whether injured midfield player Tim Cahill played at the World Cup. “It’s not a nice thing when Moyes calls our doctors witch doctors,” Arnold said. “They are up there with the best in the world. “If (Everton) denied Timmy Cahill the chance to play in the World Cup, they would have a very unhappy player on their books.” Arnold was supremely confident, however, that Cahill’s injured knee would not stand in his way, saying he might miss Australia’s warm-up match against Greece in Melbourne on May 25 but should be fully fit for the last warm-up against Liechtenstein in Germany early next month. “The Timmy thing will be fine,” he said. “He’s a quick healer, a fit boy. We’re certain he’ll be there.” Arnold urged the Socceroos to approach the World Cup with a show of confidence, arrogance even. “If you match the arrogance against Brazil, you’re in with a chance,” he said.

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